We arrived at Louis' after a long drive again, through freezing temps, like lower than minus-10 and went straight to the Aldi for some beer.. maybe a current theme here, but driving with no window spray is hard work, especially when you're tired from driving and climbing already, so liquid refreshment is allowed.....

Louis then showed us his appartment, nice place. Much bigger than my van, so it would do for a couple of days until the van was fixed. Next we sorted some fod, drank some beer, and decoded the new Swiss climbing guide Honza had bought before we left Kandersteg. Its called Urs Ordermatt - HOT ICE - Eisklettern in der Schweiz - OST (ISBN 978-3-033-02780-0), maybe a slight contradiction in terms, until you open it and then you see how HOT it is!! Ice everywhere and we had come to a good area, with-in less than 1 hours drive we had plenty to go at and some a little closer.

Things were looking up again.Bed called and it was early, so that was good.... tomorrow's plan was Valsertal.

We awoke with Louis at 6am, he was off to work. We had the use of his car, as its the car that is insured in Switzerland, not the person... this was a good thing. So we promptly went back to sleep, to catch up on the last few days... mistake maybe, but it will have helped later in the day. We awoke around 8am, got stuff ready and then headed out. We found ourselves driving up a valley full of ice lines, some done, some not... and some hard lines waiting for some masters to come and have a go. We found our allotted place after a little messing around and got kitted up. Tired as we were, we opted for a grade II/3+ called Namelos (which means no name I guess!!). Really nice route, very pleasant, good cave belay under the icefall above.

Honza with OMM Mountain Mover (old sample version) and Direct Alpine Devil Jacket

Charlie on the II/3+

Little Belay Cave.

Looks hard mixed into hanging tooth

Next day we headed back to Valsertal again and tried to get higher up the valley, from Vals, only to find out that we had forgotten out money, which we needed for the bus further up the valley, so we headed back to the same place and went for a route [Hohbrugge Direkt] graded II/3 in the guide, but it was certainly more like a 4/4+ on the top pitch, but we took a different bottom pitch to get to it. Another class route, but each day we climbed, the colder it got. This day it was about -19. 

Honza on our firist pitch to reach Hohbrugge Direkt

Much bigger belay cave this time, with a lovely bolt belay.

Charlie setting off on the second pitch.

Charlie seconding the last pitch on Hohbrugge Direkt

Next day we took a rest. We woke up, hoping to get out again, but on reflection after we had had breakfast, we decided a walk with loius' dog was more in order, so we headed to Obersaxon after lunch for a stroll through the woods, very beautiful, very relaxing.

Louis, our host, has got into paragliding over the last year and is training for his licence, but in true louis style, he has had minimal training, we like that!! And so is learning to fly better, by flying from LAAX, which is the ski area he is a lifty at, down to Ilanz.. A vertical descent of around 300m. As we arrived back from our dog walk, I could see Louis in the sky.. it was a little windy on the ground, but nothing too much I thought, but then I'm not a paraglider.

Louis Henderson high in the skiy Trying to touch down

As Louis descended, he seemed to keep on getting lift on each turn, but he look under control... as he flew closer I saw the power lines in the field he was wanting to land in and then he flew away, across the river and landed the otherside.

Watch out for those electricity lines!!

The other side of the River. 

Nice I thought, but apparently not so, the Swiss wouldn't think so after have a crack with Louis once he had joined us on this side of the river after wading though the icey water!! True style ;-)

Louis wades the river....

Next adventure - Safiental... coming soon