
| After spending 6 summers in the Alps and climbing the Weissmies North Ridge a few days earlier, I finally felt ready to tackle the impressive Täschhorn. Fresh snowfall during the previous 2 days put some question markts by our attempt.
In order to avoid a late crossing of the crevassed Weingarten Glacier we started at 05.00 in the morning in Täschalp. We left the car in dense fog and slowly followed the trace along the steep moraines of the Weingarten Glacier. Suddenly we were above the clouds...shit, all the mountains around us were plastered with snow. Normally this beautiful scenery would make me very happy, now it just seemed we should cancel our climb tomorrow. We reached the Mischabeljochbivouac without problems.
The very stable weather window persuaded us to give it a try despite the fresh snow. By the start of daylight around 5.30 we left the bivouac. The first part in the rocks on the right side of the ridge posed little problems. Once on the crest of the ridge we encountered more snow, but there was a good trace left by 4 parties ahead of us. Without great difficulties we finally reached the summitblock. A small traverse and some tricky passages in shitty rock brought us around 10.15 to the summit.
Although the views where superb, we didn't stay long on the summit and started the very uninviting descent back down the SE Ridge. Because of the loose rock we secured the entire descent of the summit block. Back at the snow shoulder the real misery started. Around 11.30 the sharp, corniched snow passages had become very weak and unstable. It was difficult and time consuming climbing back down. Once the snow sections were over, we knew we were in and easily reached the crowded bivouac again at 18.30 in the evening, happy to find out they left or beds for the night untouched.
Very satisfying, though sometimes demanding climb! |