Zinalrothorn 4221m

The reflective posts on the Oberaletsch glacier

Rocky & Blocky...the road is long over the stones of the Aletschhorn.

The Dom, Monte Rosa and Lagginhorn / Weissmies Massifs from the ascent of The Aletschhorn.

Working through the crevasses on the upper glacier on the SW ridge of the Aletschhorn.

Snowy upper glacier en route to the upper SW ridge proper.

Summit panorama from the Aletschhorn.

Richard high on the South West Ridge of the Aletschhorn

Serried ranks...with the Swiss Italian border lost amongst the ridge lines. Good views en route to the Aletschhorn

Metal stakes for runners / anchors on the scrambling upper section of the SW Ridge.

Aletschorn Aug 22

Rob & Richard on the summit of the Aletschhorn, a good team effort. Lots of effort required for this one!

Richard on the summit of the Aletschorn, 6.5hours after leaving the hut.

Unpleasant loose rock on the newly exposed 'choss' between the glacier and upper SW ridge.

Richard taking the superb 'Panoramaweg' path in to the Oberaletsch Hutte with the long and stony Oberaletschgletscher behind.

Welcome to Oberaletschutte 2640m

Welcome to Oberaletschutte 2640m

The long journey to Aletschhorn!

The East Oberland from Furka Pass. The highest peak is Finsteraarhorn with the Eiger on the right and Aletschorn as the snowy peak on the left. Journey ends. But it would be great to return...

Skinning journey over the shapely saddle of the Grunhornlucke (3280m) with the remarkable Grosser Aletschfirn beyond - And Hollandia Hut positioned just above right of the distant col of the Lötschenlücke (3158m) and the massive Aletschhorn itself on the distant left.

Skinning along the SE Ridge of the Abeni Flue at nearly 4000m with the massive bull of the Aletschorn behind. A magnificent position!

Route Notes

• Whilst it’s a hassle to take a full 60m rope, this does allow several sections to be abseiled more conveniently including the Biner Slab and rock rib on the Rive Gauche of the Gabel notch couloir.
• Unless this couloir is snowy and quiet it’s probably much better to climb the relatively solid rock rib on the left bank as this reduces stone fall risk, especially with other parties above, and is nicer more solid rock with a few bolts.
• In 2019 there was an intermediate bolt anchor on the direct abseil descent of the Biner Slab incase you ran out of rope (eg with a 50m) having abseiled from one of the metal stakes above the crux traverse.

9 August 2019, Zinalrothorn, 4 Ways!

20 September 2019, Zinalrothorn, Breithorn, Gran Paradiso & Mont Blanc

Climb The Zinalrothorn, August 2019