Forum Index > Trip Reports > Swiss Alps - Tschuggen and Lauberhorn (8/8/2012)
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Gimpilator
infinity/21M



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics
Location: Edmonds, WA
Gimpilator
infinity/21M
PostWed Aug 22, 2012 9:27 pm 
I've seen the movie Nordwand (North Face) and also read several bits of mountaineering literature about the history of climbing on the Eiger. Since my plans for Mont Blanc were destroyed, I thought it would be fun to do a hike below the north face as a sort of consolation prize. Studying maps on the internet in my hotel, I saw that there were actually two peaks right under the north face of Eiger. Lauberhorn (8110 feet) seemed to be a fairly popular little hike but Tschuggen (8271 feet) was less common even though it was higher. I decided to do both.
Tschuggen seen from Männlichen
Tschuggen seen from Männlichen
Swiss Cow And Jungfrau
Swiss Cow And Jungfrau
Mönch And Tschuggen
Mönch And Tschuggen
Tschuggen
Tschuggen
I took the cable lift up to Männlichen as a staging point. The plan was to climb Tschuggen first and then traverse the ridge between the two peaks. I didn't have much beta to go on. As soon as I got off the lift I could see that the south ridge of Tschuggen was not an option. The south face was a series of cliffs. I followed the trail around to the northwest side and hiked off trail up to the top of a ski lift which was closed for the summer. Here I found a climbers trail. The trail led up to some short easy scrambling and then the summit.
Jungfrau
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Jungfrau
Eiger From Tschuggen Summit
Eiger From Tschuggen Summit
Lauberhorn From Tschuggen
Lauberhorn From Tschuggen
Path On Lauberhorn
Path On Lauberhorn
Views of Wetterhorn, Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau were astounding, not to mention the surrounding valleys with small villages. I could see that following the ridge over to Lauberhorn would not be an option either as its south face also had cliffs. Bummer. I would have to descend all the way to the trail again to traverse around to the northwest side. I did that and found an easy trail to follow up. The views got even better as I was closer to the big peaks. Amazing to think that Jungfrau was the first 4000 meter peak to be climbed in the Alps. It looked like a tough climb.
Tschuggen From Lauberhorn
Tschuggen From Lauberhorn
Wetterhorn And Grindelwald
Wetterhorn And Grindelwald
Eiger From Lauberhorn Summit
Eiger From Lauberhorn Summit
North Face Detail
North Face Detail
When I was done taking it all in I hiked down to Kleine Scheidegg and took the train to Grindelwald to check out the Eiger Museum. Bonus photos from a short hike I did on Schilthorn (9744 feet) the previous day:
Breithorn From Schilthorn
Breithorn From Schilthorn
Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau
Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau
Birg Poking Through Clouds
Birg Poking Through Clouds
Schilthorn Summit And Restaraunt
Schilthorn Summit And Restaraunt
The Ridge I Hiked Up
The Ridge I Hiked Up
Another Cloud Shot (notice the cable lift from Birg)
Another Cloud Shot (notice the cable lift from Birg)

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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics
Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostWed Aug 22, 2012 9:30 pm 
Thanks for sharing! up.gif

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Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostWed Aug 22, 2012 9:35 pm 
Wow, those pics look a lot like mine when I was there in '05....swiss cows & everything! smile.gif The whole time we were hiking we heard the jingling of bells.... dizzy.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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twodogdad
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Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Posts: 846 | TRs | Pics
Location: seattle
twodogdad
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PostWed Aug 22, 2012 10:14 pm 
I was waiting for your report--and the sequel. Thanks.
Gimpilator wrote:
Amazing to think that Jungfrau was the first 4000 meter peak to be climbed in the Alps. It looked like a tough climb.
It's climbed from the other side--the train dumps you on the glacier between the Monk and the Jungfrau--and the route not that hard, especially if you are with a guide. I must confess, though, that I ran out of gas a few hundred feet below the summit--altitude sickness?--and decided to conserve my energy for Mont Blanc. But I vowed to return to the Jungfrau. The Monk is a gem of a climb. tdd

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Redwic
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Joined: 23 Feb 2009
Posts: 3292 | TRs | Pics
Location: Going to the Prom(inence)
Redwic
Unlisted Free Agent
PostThu Aug 23, 2012 4:18 am 
It looks like a beautiful area!

60 pounds lighter but not 60 points brighter.
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kiliki
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Joined: 07 Apr 2003
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Location: Seattle
kiliki
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PostSat Aug 25, 2012 7:43 pm 
Have you ever watched the Lauberhorn (World Cup) ski race? I've hiked in that area and cannot for the life of me understand where they ski. Well, I do, but I don't understand how they ski it. Anyway, if you've seen it it's neat to try to pick out the route when you're hiking there.

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Tigerotor77W
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Joined: 16 May 2009
Posts: 776 | TRs | Pics
Location: Charleston, SC
Tigerotor77W
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PostFri Aug 31, 2012 8:55 pm 
Another awesome TR! I'm going to stop posting now... just bask in the memories of that area. I still prefer Rainier spiritually but there's something undeniably magical about the Swiss Alps.

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Swiss Alps - Tschuggen and Lauberhorn (8/8/2012)
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