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Hi,

I'm going hiking solo this summerand I was wordering how high up I could go. I'd be wearing crampons if necessary but I'd like to skip all other equipment such as ice axe, slings, ropes, carabiners etc.

I'm very fit and I really like long strenous walks but I'd like to avoid stuff like steep sections, crevasses and rockfalls altogether, esp. since I'm soloing (I crossed the Gouter colouir a couple of years back and got hit by a stone during heavy rockfall and promised myself never to do such a thing again intentionally).

I've been hearing about peaks like Lagginhorn, Allalinhorn, Breithorn, Weissmies and Gran Paradiso but from what I've understood all of these still have some crevasses or steep sections where roping up is commonly advised. Is that correct?

Looking at the slightly smaller peaks, they seem a lot safer and easier but I don't know enough about the individual peaks and so I'm asking you all for advice. The only one I know is Gran Pilastro and it seems to be a F or grade I. I guess this peak is more suitable than the 4000m peaks I listed above(?)

Maybe fly to Denver and climb Hallet Pk in Rocky Mtn Park or Disappointment Pk in the Tetons. Bring an ice axe though. You can also ride up 4000ers Pikes Peak and Mt Evans later in the season.

A few other similar threads with possible suggestions:

4000-meters-walk-up-non-technical-t60870.html
alpine-4000m-peaks-t35769.html
alps-non-technical-3000m-accessible-by-public-transport-t61491.html

borutbk: I'm not sure what to make of your post..

desainme: Yeah, but I was referring to the european alps since that's where I'll be heading this summer. I hope this ended up in the european forum part.

Baarb: Thanks! I've browsed through a bunch of threads prior to posting here and those threads you mention were amongst them but I couldn't really find an answer there to my question, specifially - suitable 3500-4000 metre peaks. Most people either talk about fourthousanders or peaks below 3500m.

A recent article by a climber using his ice axe to save himself on Mt. Whitney
http://www.summitpost.org/mountaineer-s-route-april-2012-know-how-to-self-arrest/785659

Some easy, glacier-free sub-4k peaks in the alps:
- Monte Emilius (Aosta / IT)
- Barrhorn (Turtmann, Valais / CH)
- Monte Vioz (Peio, Trentino / IT)
- Kreuzspitze (Vent, Tyrolia / AU)
- Hochfeiler (St.Jakob, South tyrolia / IT)
...

I second the point above, either bring crampons + ixe axis or skip both and do not slip
Crampons & poles may help you keeping the balance, but once the balance is lost you're lost...
On less inclined slopes you may self-arrest with the help of the ellbows, but in this case crampons and trekking poles add severly to injury risk.

Hi Jersaun!

In the Alps there are not many 4000 meters peaks that you can climb in solo...

The only easy one without glacier is Lagginhorn (4010 m, Switzerland)
Breithorn West and Allalinhorn are very easy and very short ascents, using cable railway. These are glacier route, but path is very clear, you just have to follow undred of alpinists.

Other high peaks that you can do alone, with good experience of hiking :
- Grande Sassière (3747 m, France)
- Dent Parrachée (3697 m, France)
- Mont Viso (3841 m, Italy)

You can find many ideas on my website : http://www.lumieres-de-cimes.com