Gross Bielenhorn

Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 46.60446°N / 8.42661°E
Activities Activities: Mountaineering, Trad Climbing
Seasons Season: Summer
Additional Information Elevation: 10518 ft / 3206 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

 

Gross Bielenhorn 2940 m

Gross Bielenhorn  is a beatiful granite mountain located near the Furkapass in Switzerland.  It's the bigger brother of Chli BielenhornBoth these granite peaks, separated by a saddle named Untere Bielenlücke and located in the vicinity of Furkapass in Switzerland, belong to the Uri Alps Group.  This mountain offers excellent rock climbing on wonderfull granite in UIAA IV-V. It is often climbed on the E and SE ridges.  

Gross Bielenhorn SW wall
Gross Bielenhorn SW wall

The climbing is varied with cracks, dihedrals and slabs.The easiest route (and descent) is rated UIAA II-III so there is no way to walk to the top. Take a rockclimbing rack supplemented with some cams and nuts. Good rock climbing skills, routefinding skills and experience with nuts and friends are required for all routes on the mountain.

 

Gross Bielenhorn SW wall
Gross Bielenhorn SW wall
Gross Bielenhorn S side
Gross Bielenhorn S side

 

Getting There

Road access

From Andermatt, a little town at St.Gotthard tunnel northern exit, follow the road to Furkapass (m.2429), reaching Hospental and Realp. Stop about 2,5 km. after the small settlement of Tiefenbach along the route to Furka Pass, in a pull-out near a little river before the road is turning left (m. 2279).

Sidelenhutte
Sidelenhutte

 

 

 

Walking approach

After passing through the Tiefenbach houses, park at a bridge over a stream (signposted for Siedelen Hutte). The first part takes place on the path that goes up to the Siedelenhutte; after passing the shelter, we continue, at first for debris, and then for the Siedelen glacier towards the wall. Keeping to the left side of the river you reach the base of the Gross Bielenhorn.

Routes

Gross Bielenhorn with...
Gross Bielenhorn with Sidelenhütte from SSW

 

 East Ridge III-IV, 3-4h. First ascent: J. Marmet & G. Styger 1949

South-East Ridge IV+, V or A0, 4h. First ascent: A. & O. Amstand & G. Masetto 1935

On Gross Bielenhorn SE ridge
On Gross Bielenhorn SE ridge
Granite pinnacles on Gross Bielenhorn
Granite pinnacles on Gross Bielenhorn

South Ridge III-IV, few ropelenghts V, 5-6h. First ascent: F. Anderrüthi & A. Schelbert, 1968

SW-Wall Variante I VI-, A1/VI, 5-6h. First ascent: N. Baumann & Müller, 1964

SW-Wall Variante II VI-A2, 3-6h. First ascent: F. Anderrüthi & M. Niedermann, 1956 A very fine, difficult (VI-A2) rock climb of about 300m drop (14 pitches) starting in a superficial dihedral 20m to the left of a wide dihedral/channel.

West Pillar IV-V+, A2, 4-5h. First ascent: Nedela, Niedermann & Tischhauser, 1972

SW-Wall of the NW-Summitridge V-V+, A1, 4-5h. First ascent: P. Casanella & Zembrowski, 1974

Climb on Gross Bielenhorn
Climb on Gross Bielenhorn
Summit of Gross Bielenhorn
Summit of Gross Bielenhorn

Red Tape

None at the moment, the Furkapass however is closed from november till may.

Huts

The Sidelenhutte.
The Sidelenhutte.

 

 

Sidelenhütte (2708m) Open from mid-june till mid-october. Reachable from the Furkapass in 1h.

When To Climb

Best time july, august, september and if the weather permits, october. If the snow has melted early june is also possible.

Camping

SwissGeo capture showing...

Realp Camping (1510m): Open in from June to September. 

Meteo

Meteo Switzerland

Guidebooks and Maps

Schweiz Plaisir West Guidebook
Schweiz Plaisir West Guidebook

Guidebooks

Schweiz Plaisir West, J. von Känel, ISBN 3906087069 Clubführer Urner Alpen 2, T. Fullin & A. Bahnhölzer, ISBN 3859022229

Maps: Urseren Blatt 1231



Children

Children

Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. For example, the Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children.