Swiss snow climbs (2 videos)

Lagginhorn (4,010m)
I had already chosen my provisional mountain and route should I be lucky for climbing weather. I would be climbing alone, so therefore needed a route without crevasse danger or serious technical difficulties. I flicked through my guide book and picked out the Lagginhorn west ridge with a grade of PD (peu difficule - small difficulty).

As seen in the video, there was deep snow on the ridge, possible avalanche danger on the faces but I was safe on the ridge. The deep snow was exhausting, but made for a technically easy ascent as any climbing difficulties were hidden beneath the 'sugar coating'. I caught a guiding party after 2 hours, then "broke" trail for 1 œ hours myself, I was absolutely exhausted, every step was a battle, my foot sinking into the knee deep snow, every vertical metre was a victory. I sat down and allowed another guided party to take the lead. I rested for 30 mins, but took just 8 minutes to catch the party breaking trail - the going was that slow. Another solo climber then caught us and took-up the gauntlet for 30 mins. But it was getting late, our progress was far too slow and the final cable car back into the valley was only 2 œ hours away.

With only 100 vertical metres remaining to the summit, both guided parties and the solo climber turned back. I took stock of the situation and decided to continue - I've climbed a great deal alone, sometimes in precarious situations and felt comfortable with the current situation. After all, it's a long way back to this point, especially from Northumberland! I slogged upwards alone for another hour to the summit shrouded in mist - I spent 1 minute on top taking pictures then hastily retreated towards the valley floor, glissading most of the way down on my bottom. I reached the cable car about 5 mins before the last ride, saving me an extra 2 hour walk! 5 œ hours up, just 1 Œ down!

Allalinhorn (4,027m)

The next day dawned bright as well, but my legs were so heavy and exhausted from the previous day, I chose an easy climb - the Allalinhorn. It is the joint most-straightforward 4,000m peak in the Alps, along with the Breithorn above Zermatt. I completed a simple ascent with spectacular views across the Alps.

This concluded my second Alps trip of the year, I'm disappointed not to climb the Eiger, but still, I enjoyed myself with 3 wonderful days on the Monch, Lagginhorn and Allalinhorn.

The Alps are fantastic, well worth a visit for anyone, plus, the cable cars and funicular railways offer everyone the opportunity to experience the high Alps.

Richard.