A general query here; what are conditions generally like in the Bernese Oberland in mid-September? I appreciate that there is generally an increased crevasse danger etc, but does anything else spring to mind?

Thanks,

Brían

Attila the Hun wrote:A general query here; what are conditions generally like in the Bernese Oberland in mid-September? I appreciate that there is generally an increased crevasse danger etc, but does anything else spring to mind?

Thanks,

Brían

Depending on the summer the big glacier crossing-routes might be impossible because of crevasses.
There is a trend that more and more people go for it in late spring by ski mountaineering or in the early summer.

It can be glorious in the fall - a lot of the rock routes will be in great shape. The smaller glaciers will be dry, so crevasses may or may not be a problem, but at least you'll see them.. Higher up the glaciers can be really treacherous.

BUT it can also decide to snow down far - all depends on Mother Nature's whims.

I would tend to look at rock routes in the Grimsel area, for example, or the Engelhörner. Diamantstock or Hühnertälihorn (Hiendertelltihorn) cross some glacier, but they are not considered problematic. Diechterhorn has glacier, but it is dry to the saddle.

These climbs depending on your viewpoint are in the Berner Alps or in Uri Alps.

Thanks for the info, all. The provisional plan is to peak bag a couple of the simpler 4000ers around the Jungfrau/Fiescherhorn area. The plan also includes a hike down the glacier to the Konkordiahutte from the Jungfraujoch, and then possibly back up to the Jungfraujoch via Gross Fiescherhorn along glacier again (can't remember the name of either of the glaciers), hence my concern about glacier conditions at that time of year (mid-sept).

Jungfraufirn and Ewigschneefeld. Both are popular and would have a good track, but could be tricky so late in the year.

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out closer to the time. I'll probably end up giving it a lash and see what happens.