Aug. 16, Sunday: descend to Arolla

Post date: Aug 16, 2009 3:43:49 PM

Great nights sleep. 4500' foot descent back to Arolla.

• 30SF for the bed, and 10SF for breakfast. Ready for trek down.
• Dropped down 2 sets of ladders and several rails to the upper glacier. Very picturesque.
• Snow hardened during the night, and we were in the shade.
• Footsteps well defined from previous day. 2 trekking poles made me feel very stable.
• About a 50 degree slope.
• Two other Spanish climbers were also descending (a grandfather and his grandson). He decided to have his grandson rope in, so Frank decided to make it a 3-some.
  • His boots are quite aged and somewhat slippery and he doesn't have much ice experience.
  • Slope very stable and no issues --- just a great descent looking across at some spectacular glaciers on the end of the valley.
  • Took about 4 hours to get back to Arolla.
• Shower and short drive to Evolene (about 30 minutes down valley). Stocked up on food at the Coop and are deciding the next phase of our trip.
• Plan to move on to the east side of the country, eventually in the Swiss National Park and Silvretta Alps.