Fletschhorn NW flank - GrüebuGletscher

Overview

Fletschhorn (3,993 m asl) is a mountain in the Pennine Alps (subsection of the Mischabel and Weissmies Alps).
This skialp route climb takes place on the NW side

Getting There

From Saas Balen, take the forest road on the left (signs)
Shortly after you arrive at a waterfall and at the crossroads continue left
Continue to follow the road always following the signs for Heimischgartu and Gletscher.
If clear from snow, it can go up to 2800 m

Route Description

Leave the car, walk for about 15' until you reach the lake, always following the road
With SE direction, starts ascent the GrüebuGletscher, initially on wide and gentle slopes, then they increase keeping constant 30-35°
Beware of large crevasses between 3100 and 3500 m
At 3600 m altitude turn N and reach the ridge at about 3800 m
From here, on foot (crampons), overcome a rather steep first stretch and then easily and without problems to the summit.

DESCENT: Directly from the summit
Descend slightly keeping left until you rejoin the ascent track; then for the same ascent route

Watch out for crevasses, that are sometimes not very visible

Fantastic itinerary, both for the glacier on which it takes place and for the constant steepness of the slopes
One of those climbs that never gives up, from 3000 m. onwards no flat stretch.
Uphill it is easy to find frozen snow, because the sun comes rather late; rampant are useful
For the final ridge, ice ax and crampons.
The road that goes up to q. 2800 (in years of normal snow, from mid-June it is clear of snow up to that altitude), it is paved in the first part, then it becomes unpaved and a little bumpy, very useful therefore a 4x4
Fantastic panorama from the summit and, from the final ridge, on the impressive N wall