Trip Reports

Italian Haute Route - 13 to 20 July 2019

Pyramide Vincent 4215m
Trip Report

Written by Leader Jamie Holding, July 2019

Down in Zermatt from a successful Italian High Level Route, with Arwyn, David and Mark.

We began the journey with a first Alpine 4000m peak for Arwyn, the Breithorn 4164m, descending to the Gandegg hut.

Overnight and into the next day we had 30cm of fresh snow. We progressed via a crossing of the Plateau Rosa and a descent of the remote Vallone di Courtod to picturesque Resy and the Rifugio Ferraro.

For the rest of the journey we had perfect conditions. Trekking over the col di Bettaforca, we had a lunch stop in Stafal before lift assistance to the idyllic Rifugio Gabiet.

The first lift to Indren next morning allowed us the opportunity to continue past the Mantova hut 3498m, ascend the Lys glacier and reach the summit of Pyramide Vincent 4215m.

Crossing the Lys joch 4248m, from Italy back into Switzerland, to descend the mighty Grenz glacier, is the crux of the journey. To get the best snow conditions we set off at 4.30am, making good time, now that we were all well acclimatised. Weaving our way around some big crevasses, we climbed down an icy pitch for the final home run to the Monte Rosa hut 2883m.

A newly routed and adventurous path leads to the dry Monte Rosa glacier and onwards to the Gornergrat railway and so to Zermatt, where the hospitality of the Aristella awaited.

David and Mark contributed their valuable Alpine experience and enthusiasm, and Arwyn had an Alpine introduction he’ll never forget.

Jamie

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