THE HÖCKENHORN DAWN HIKE
PHOTOS BY DAVE GARDNER & MARK HUTTON .

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On the top
 
After the first short snow field is a small rocky island before the first interesting bit.  We have to walk around the north side of the base of the little hockenhorn.  Here the snow field slopes quite steeply.

 If we slip we must use to Ice Axe to stop ourselves otherwise we will either thump into the rocks at the bottom, or thump into the rocks and then fly off the top of the cliff below.
Ice
Ice formations at the summit.
KiddyHock

Either way, its best to make sure you practiced with the Ice Axe the night before, or better still. Don't slip.

This bit of the walk is perhaps not as dangerous as it sounds.  None of us slipped and we crossed this section of snow quite quickly.  

Everyone is at the top. 
 

 By now the yet to rise sun was turning distant snow peeks pink.

The view looking to the south.

After passing the little hockenhorn we climb up a short steep snow field before commencing the rocky scramble to the top.  I say rocky but there was also a lot of snow on the rocks.  The snow made the climb slippery but there was no need to get a rope out.

The peek itself is a small collection of boulders.  Even the most confident climbers and walkers of 3rd Gidea Park slowly scramble around with hands on rocks to steady themselves.  As usual the pictures don't do justice to how steep and exposed the peek is.
To the left and right of this picture are sheer cliffs.
 

 We spent about ten minutes at the top, taking the obligatory group photo's and admiring the dawn view.  This was probably the first day of camp that we had awoken to see not a cloud in the sky.

 We couldn't spend too long at the top as breakfast was being served back at the hut shortly after 8:00 and we had to get everything out shortly after that. 

 It would have been all to easy to have spent all day sitting up there watching the view change as the sun rose but time was ticking on and we had to get back.
The view north east, over the Kanderfirn Glacier. 
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