Finsteraarhorn - Traversata dalla Jungfrau e discesa a Grimsel per l'Oberaarpass
View route detailsAfter my car gave up on me and a nice train journey, I arrive at Jungfraujoch, where Pietro catches the second-to-last train down home and I take his place. The next day, a horrible day of fog and snow forces us to stop, but the following morning we are ready for the Jungfrau–Mönch traverse and then who knows… Conditions are severe: no overnight refreeze, fresh snow has hidden the crevasses, and the bridges are unstable. When we reach the slope below the summit, I look at Teo and tell him my veto: going up is too dangerous; if the wind shifts and strips the snowpack, we turn back tomorrow. We descend and head to the Mönch. With two days lost in our schedule, our plans for Oberland domination need revising, but luckily Mirko appears and will take my place on the Schreckhorn–Lauteraarhorn traverse. The next morning we fly up the Jungfrau, following the track from the day before. Now the slope is fine and we reach the summit. We descend quickly, grab a sandwich, and start crossing the Ewigschneefeld below the Fiescherhorn. A clever little ridge allows us to avoid the normal route, which is clearly not in condition. Back and forth, we return to the place where we had lightened our packs about an hour before dark—just in time to flatten a bivouac platform in the snow and collapse after swallowing something to eat. An early alarm and we set off for the Grosses Grünhorn. Our improvised route saves a lot of elevation gain, and around 8 a.m. we are on the summit. A rather long descent follows to the deserted Finsteraarhorn Hut, where we have a snack and then set off again in an incoming storm for the Finsteraarhorn, which is in poor condition. We run up and down the untracked ridge in whiteout conditions. We arrive back down soaked and surprised by an unexpected thunderstorm. We opt for a comfortable night and take advantage of the hut’s warm hospitality. The next morning the bad weather persists, but fortunately it’s only 20 km to reach the Grimsel… Not a single soul encountered on the summits throughout all these days.