Nadelgrat | 03/07/2023

Nadelgrat, climbed on July third 2023. Had a very busy summer and fall so put off editing for a while, but here we go!

Instead of acclimatizing on Balfrin and doing Nadelgrat on July fourth, we decided to go for Nadelgrat right away as the weather was supposed to be better on Monday than on Tuesday. We started off following reflectors and cairns up to the glacier, traversed this and got started in the couloir. We had perfect conditions with a good track which allowed us to make quick progress. The crux of the route, approximately ten meters of 3b, comes right at the start of the ridge. After this, one continues over easier terrain. In the descent of Dirruhorn, we really started feeling the altitude. Luckily everything went smooth and we made it up to the summit of Nadelhorn ten hours after leaving the hut.

In the descent, we couldn't find a route down the windjoch (direction Bordierhütte), which forced us to ascend up to Ulrichshorn and descend its north face. The glacier was very slushy, which made for tricky conditions navigating some crevasses, and we were pretty tired, which didn't help. But in the end, we still had a beautiful day on this long ridge. I will definitely return to do the full horseshoe and, after Ulrichshorn, continue over Balfrin and Gross-Bigerhorn instead of descending over the glacier!

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