From one valley to the next, by way of the Rimpfischhorn

The fresh snow that fell the day before and the fine weather forecast convince us that this day is well worth taking off work!

A year earlier, I had done that nice Strahlhorn – Rimpfischhorn – Alphubel link-up from the Britanniahütte, but the circumstances hadn't been right for climbing the “real summit” of the Rimpfischhorn, and I had had to make do with the little bump below it.

This time, for a change, the idea was to start from Täsch and traverse to Saas-Almagell. And it was indeed a pleasure! A superb day that began early (alarm at 3:50 for a 100% low-carbon outing combining e-bike, trains and buses), with fresh snow from 1600 m and a lovely wintry atmosphere in the forest leading to Täschalp. What followed was a good effort and plenty of ecstasy before these glaciers and summits stretching as far as the eye can see...

The summit ridge was, however, tougher than planned, with a few sections trickier than expected! In an act of bravery (or naivety?) we had carried all our gear up to the summit, intending to descend by the North ridge, or in case the NW face below the summit was in condition. Unfortunately it wasn't at all (bare ice and exposed rock), and the North ridge would have been a slightly too perilous undertaking given the late hour and the amount of snow.

Still, that there-and-back along the summit ridge — either dry or covered in fresh snow with no base underneath — with crampons on and skis on our backs, was a real slog!

But luckily the day had another, much happier surprise in store for us: that memorable “summit meeting” with two legends of the camptocamp community! A great pleasure to have crossed paths with Maurice and Laurent!

E per concludere: grazie Bruno per la splendida giornata in montagna!