The alternative title for today would be ... Glaciers up close and Personal. The original plan was to go back over the pass we came through the Gemschliche Pass, but given the problems we had descending then we felt it would be better to go the long way around, descending the Fiescher glacier until we could turn the corner and ascend the Galmi glacier up to the Oberaar hut and then down the Oberaar glacier, around the lake and back to the car.
The Fiescher Glacier started out quite benign and it was not difficult to walk down the edge, as we got close to the junction things got a little more jumbled, and it was a complex route finding challenge to navigate around the corner.
Starting up the Galmi glacier was a much simpler maze, as it was very dry and not too steep, it was just a task to avoid the big crevasses.
Higher up the glacier it got steeper, but we were able to go up the obvious ramp angled left to right. Looking down was very different to to the sight looking up, as you could see down each crevasse.
At the top of the slope we came across a large crevasse we could not get around easily, after a short discussion, while I sorted a short rope, and Dave stripped off all loose equipment, a short run up and long leap. The gap was not really as far as the mind made up, but he was over. Then we just reeled each person in one at a time. The upper glacier had more snow on it, but was effectively just a walk to the pass we had been on a few days earlier.
We rested at the pass for Lunch and a preparation for the final descent. The last glacier (Oberaar) was no stranger, and the descent was simple, but rather long, all the time seeing the destination.
Back at the car we packed everything back into the cars and set off to the pass, from there going back north to Innertkitchen, where we knew there was a camp site.
The Fiescher Glacier started out quite benign and it was not difficult to walk down the edge, as we got close to the junction things got a little more jumbled, and it was a complex route finding challenge to navigate around the corner.
Starting up the Galmi glacier was a much simpler maze, as it was very dry and not too steep, it was just a task to avoid the big crevasses.
Higher up the glacier it got steeper, but we were able to go up the obvious ramp angled left to right. Looking down was very different to to the sight looking up, as you could see down each crevasse.
We rested at the pass for Lunch and a preparation for the final descent. The last glacier (Oberaar) was no stranger, and the descent was simple, but rather long, all the time seeing the destination.Back at the car we packed everything back into the cars and set off to the pass, from there going back north to Innertkitchen, where we knew there was a camp site.