SummitPost.org

Hi,

Am looking to go to the Alps this summer (first half of July) for a 10 day to 2-week hiking trip, possibly with a friend.

I'm looking to climb some relatively non technical 3000+ summits (grade I/II scrambling fine, but no ropework or glacier travel) and with long, challenging climbs from the valley floor, ideally 2000m+, stopping at huts as required. I would also like to be in an area with spectacular mountain scenery, green Alpine valleys (the option of nice lower-level walks on poor-weather days would be good), and relatively unspoilt. I've been to the Berchtesgaden and Garmisch areas already but this year I'm looking for somewhere different, in the central Alps.

To give an idea of previous experience: I've done Pikes Peak by the Barr Trail in less-than-perfect conditions (misty on top; light hail/snow; up in one go, stopped at the Barr Camp on the way down though I could almost certainly have gone up and down in one day), several of the 12/13k peaks in Summit County, the Aonach Eagach in Glencoe for scrambling, attempted the Watzmann (though only reached Hocheck due to poor weather), and successfully summited the Weissmies with a couple of friends (though as I may be on my own I'm looking for something less technical than this).

Accessibility by public transport is an absolute must.

From looking at previous posts here it seems the Tirol is the most likely option - any agreement/disagreement on this?

Thanks,
Nick

How about the Dolomites? If you get some via feratta gear then there will be dozens of routes open to you. The mountains don't rise much higher than 3000m but the scenery is to die for.

If you're set on Tirol, I hiked across the region last summer, through the Karwendel and Zillertal Alps. The Karwendel has some awesome jagged rocky peaks, although they don't rise beyond 2750m, there are many 2500m plus peaks that can be reached by scrambling. The Zillertal have higher peaks up to about 3500m which are supposedly quite non-technical although they are glaciated. (I didn't climb any peaks in this area).

Both regions are near Innsbruck, although the Karwendel doesn't have much in the way of road access, it will be at least a day's hike to reach many of the peaks

Beca di Sale a satellite of Mont Emilius is described as a hiking mountain
http://www.summitpost.org/becca-di-sal/391462

At the head of the Susa valley is Mont Chaberton which used to have a gun battery on top.
Both are about 10,200 feet high.

http://www.summitpost.org/chaberton/155316

Why not Valais - numerous options. For example:
Groß Bigerhorn: http://www.summitpost.org/gross-bigerhorn/368063
Start at ST. Niklaus , trainstation at about 1100m and gain roughly 2500m untill reaching the top. Scenery: Nadelgrat, Weisshorn, Berner Alps to name a few.

Petit Flambeau (3440 m) in Mont Blanc Massif could be another option though it's surrounding by a very large glacier. That's a 4000er but... Why not Lagginhorn in the Valais

There is a list here:
http://www.hoehenrausch.de/wandern/3000er/index.php

The page is in German, but most peaks should also have a page here at sp.

Mont Buet (3096 m, France) : a 1700 meters ascent, with a hut at 1900m, and a fantastic view from the summit on Mont Blanc massif :




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