Eiger west flank from Rotstock

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Eiger west flank from Rotstock

Eiger west flank from Rotstock

A much foreshortened Eiger west flank, viewed from Rotstock 2663m.
markhallam
on Aug 21, 2011 2:31 am
Image Type(s): Alpine Climbing
Image ID: 739397

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Bill Kerr

Bill Kerr - Aug 23, 2011 6:14 pm - Voted 10/10

Spot the climber challenge

Hansw has a advantage as he has climbed this ridge so he knows where to look but here is my guess
see http://images.summitpost.org/original/740250.jpg

markhallam

markhallam - Aug 24, 2011 8:14 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Spot the climber challenge

Good guess Bill, but having been up that way myself - if I went the right way - the route is further to the right... up to the top of the snow patch and then choice of the very narrow gulley/rock cleft (which having climbed up there solo I don't recommend!) - or what I think is the normal way, up a little distance up the broader gulley at the top of the snow patch before scrambling up onto the rock - and a bit of tricky route finding to follow a sort of weakness diagonally up left to end up on the top of the big prominence on the skyline (where I have bivvied twice on different occasions).
Do you agree Hans?
The route finding is certainly tricky up there - especially coming down - and you really don't want to get off route since you'd miss the abseil points, higher up and also low down on the west flank.
Fred Spiker who prepared the excellent Eiger page was suggesting someone did a route page for the Eiger West Flank - I could have a shot, but I'm afraid I didn't summit - one time bad weather, the other time I got to 3700m climbing solo, but bottled out of the last 200m. Maybe Hans?
Cheers, Mark

Bill Kerr

Bill Kerr - Aug 24, 2011 11:19 am - Voted 10/10

Re: Spot the climber challenge

Thanks Mark - guess we will have to wait on Hans. It would be nice to see the route marked especially when you have such a good high resolution picture.
Take care
Bill

markhallam

markhallam - Aug 24, 2011 12:29 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Spot the climber challenge

Hi again Bill
I will e-mail Hans and ask him. I am happy to have a shot at producing a route page for SP since my high point was beyond most of the route finding difficulties - infact more than 90% of the way up the west flank. But I think Hans summited so should suggest it to him in case he wants to. I could certainly use my photo edit thing to mark the route on the photo - but on this particular shot just the lower 400m - too forshortened to mark higher up - but I do have other photos which would be clearer.
Cheers,
Mark

hansw

hansw - Aug 24, 2011 1:45 pm - Voted 10/10

Disappeared?

My original post from yesterday seems to have disappeared! I didn’t do it for sure. Anyway here it is again while I am thinking of a comment on the route and the mysterious climber.

“Not knowing, few should guess the Eiger seeing this picture. For sure route finding is not straight forward. And it looks even more difficult on the enlarged image. Very informative indeed!

/Hans

Btw, I can spot at least one person coming down."

hansw

hansw - Aug 24, 2011 3:36 pm - Voted 10/10

Spot and route

The “climber” can be found in the circle (enlarge Marks image to see). It really looks like a person on a Sunday walk. But the scale is not in proportion so I guess it must be just rocks. Bill, I guess your spots also are human like rocks.

I have also indicated the route below on Marks image. This is just as I remember it and it is not meant to be exact. I suggest that Mark writes a route page since he has been up there several times and has good pictures.


Around the bend

Bill Kerr

Bill Kerr - Aug 24, 2011 5:58 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: Spot and route

Thanks Hans - the route makes sense when I examine the detailed picture. I see the "climber" and agree that it and the spots I circled are just rocks and shadows.
Take care
Bill

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