Mountain running and climbing

The Stunning Skyline Ridge from Eiger Mönch & Jungfrau
August 3. 2016

I left Grindelwald Gund for a 28 km and 4800 vertical meter journey of climbing and running. From here I run up tot he Ostegg hut were I could see two headlamps up on the ridge. Finally I the first daylight I catch up with the two climbers. An old friend of mine with a client. The exposed crux pitch is not ideal to climb with a soft running shoe but manageable.

At 7.00 am I reached already the Mittellegihut. From here it is a quick hour to get tot he Top of Eiger. My way went down oft he Eigerjoch tot he East Ridge from Mönch. Clouds were moving in and creating magical scenery. My descend over the West ridge is not quite normal but part of my traverse. Finally I enjoy a good Sandwich and a Cookie at the Jungfraujoch Railway station. Now the Day heats up already. The way tot he East Ridge of Jungfrau was far from ideal. Wet deep snow and some significant Rock fall. I try to move as fast as I can. The Final ascent to Jungfrau is one of the most beautiful climbs in the Berner Oberland.

This ridge does not have lots of traffic, the Rock is great as long you stay on the ridge. Just the ground I love the most, fast technical terrain. On Jungfrau the clouds moved completely in. The view was pretty bad. I start descending towards the RottalRidge. I traverse the Glacier Plateau between Jungfrau and Wengen Jungfrau in a complete without. Moments I think I should take out my Phone from y backpack o navigate. But I keep going because I can see some old tracks. Unfortunately this old tracks leading tot he Rotbrätt Ridge. Ones a bit lower down the clouds moved away and I figuring out immediately I am on the wrong ridge. So it means I have to climb up again 200 vertical meters, some extra training. I just make fun of myself ones more. I cannot take myself serious in such moments. It would be easy just to stop quickly and check the position on the phone, but I didn’t. No big deal just funn

A great run on the Mont-Blanc Inominata Ridge
August 13. 2016

The next day of course I felt a bit tired but I got so much Energy and motivation. One week later I run together with Colin Haley the normal route on Mont-Blanc from Les Houches up and down. Just to stay in shape the next day we climb quickly the Frendo spur on Aiguille du Midi. What a luxury climb, no descending only climbing up and then taking the Teleferique back down tot he Valley.

The Weekend I spend with my wife Nicole climbing on Aiguille du midi and the Arête du Diable.

Tuesday I am on the Southside of Mont-Blanc. I start 5 am in the Morning in Val Veny on the Campground in Peuterey. A good hour later I am having breakfast in the Monzino hut. I just have a quick breakfast 20 Minutes before heading up to Eggles. The conditions are great. The Track is perfect.

1h 45 Minutes I pass the Eggles Bivouac. Here you traverse to the left and going up to the Col. I never climbed the Inominata Ridge before so I check quick on my Topo were to go. The climbing is quite casual but interesting. 10:30 I reach ones more the Mont-Blanc summit. The track down is nice and hard it just takes me 2h 10 minutes to go over Maudit Tacul tot he Trorino Hut. After a Coke I start the hot descend back to the valley. 9h 25 minutes after leaving I am back at the Campground.

Pretty cool day. I feel now I making a good progress on my running skills.

Another Lap on Mont-Blanc

"I really getting hooked by the Mont-Blanc. It starts to be "my new Eigernorthface". After several ascents I was back sept 7. the weather was friendly to me. I just had two days time between my slideshows before heading back to USA again.

I had a early start at 3:05 am in Val Veny. Running for my breakfest at Monzino. After a 20 min Breakfast I was on the trail again. After the Eggles Bivy I did a quik “rappel" over the Betgschrund to get down to the glacier. Right in time with the sun I was at the "Pilier Rouge du Brouillard”. What a piece a granit! Almost like Yosemite! The direct start to the Bonatti Route is a very beautiful crack. All the way up great climbing.

After the Pilier I changed again the shoes. Getting out of my climbing shoes back to running shoes with crampons. I knew it is still far to the Mont-Blanc also my week on united states didn’t help to be very fast in the upper part. But I totaly enjoyed it. After spending one week in citys I enjoyed the Mont-Blanc much more. I realized how much better I feel in the mountains then in a city. The tricky snowy mixedcondition made it more interesting.

Around 11.00 I was ones more on Mont-Blanc. What a great day. The descend to les Houches I was taking easy. I ate a nice apple pie at the Gouter hut and forther down I met many friends witch I enjoyed having time to talk.

"Of course I am most of the time pushing myself. I like the feeling of moving fast and light, but I don’t wanna miss the experience of the mountain because you are always driven by the watch! I think we should not miss that. Thanks to Jon to be part of that Day. He flew he's drone to take amazing Video and pictures. We were sharing a good day together in a different way. I could climb another great route and he could fly his drone in a great place. It was one of my greatest valley to valley climb. I liked the quite technical aspect on the climb. It combined lot of different sports. Running, some mixedclimbing and some nice pitches climbing on great granit!"