KANDERSTEG SUMMER CAMP

THE SECOND DAY OF THE LÖTSCHENPASS HIKE

PHOTOS BY MARK, JON G, DAVE, JON W, SARAH, ANGE & OTHERS

JEM AND CHEZ GET READY

Day 10

Early in the morning some of the leaders, Networkers and Explorers got up early for a dawn hike. The plan was to climb to the top of the Hockenhorn in time to see the sun rise, a route the leaders had walked a few times before.

One or two of the Explorers were starting to feel the effects of the altitude as we climbed gently from the hut. Large snow fields are normally crossed but due to the hot summer the route was rock almost all the way to within half a kilometer of the summit.

Led by Mark and John, the group stepped onto what is normally the penultimate snow field only to find very solid ice. This snow can normally be strolled across with no problems, this year due to the hot summer there was no snow only very solid and steep ice. Steve slipped with his first step onto the ice and had to stop his slide with his ice axe! At this point Mark and Jon decided to turn back after taking barely 5 steps onto the ice. However they found they were stuck.

RESTING IN THE DARK

THE ICE FIELD

Fortunately for them we always carry rescue ropes when hiking and the other leaders effected a rescue. John and Mark slithered off the ice with a rope wrapped around them and using their axes to guide them.

Without crampons nobody was going to get across the ice so we returned to the hut. So near yet so far.

The picture on the left was taken of John shortly after the rescue. He is standing on the rocks, behind him is the ice and what in the dark looks like a reasonable path across it.

A SILHOUETTE OF CHEZ AT DAWN

RETURNING TO THE HUT

SHORTLY BEFORE ARRIVING BACK AT THE HUT
(The Balmhorn is behind us)

PLAYING WITH ICE AXES

THE HUT JUST AFTER DAWN

On the way back to the hut we stoped twice, once to watch dawn from the ridge. In the picture above the group can be seen with the Balmhorn behind them. As the sun rises it slowly turns the East face of the Balmhorn golden in colour as can be seen in the picture left. Some of the leaders took a closer look at the Balmhorn later in the camp.

Our second stop was next to a small and safe patch of ice so the Explorers could practice using their ice axes.

THE SUN SHINES ON THE BALMHORN

THE LEADERS DISCUSS THE HIKE

GETTING READY TO LEAVE

After breakfast we all stepped out into the cool morning air. A sharp contrast to our arrival in shorts and T-Shirts.

The Scouts and most Explorers continued on southwards towards Goppenstein station from where they would catch the train back to Kandersteg. To save on cost and to give some people a day away from the Scouts some leaders returned to Kandersteg the way we had come stopping occasionally at various watering holes.

THE LAST CUPPA

THE BALMHORN

At 2690m the Lotchenpasse hut would be the highest altitude the Scouts would reach during our camp so some time was spent admiring the view.


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