Day 9 - Snow & Ice Part 2, The Gemmi Pass, Rodelbahn and Lake Oeschinensee

Again we have some guest bloggers for you, so over to them straight away...

April (under 14s):

Today we got up from the Schwarenbach in our big room that we had all shared the previous night and got ready for our lush breakfast in the hotel (a buffet of cereals) then we all got ready to go on a hike up to the highest point the under 14s were going to visit. It wasn't very long and all the views were beautiful, we passed a lovely blue lake and all the girls were desperate to go for a swim but unfortunately we weren't allowed:(

Then we came back for an ice cream then headed back to the chalet in time for lunch. Then we got our stuff ready for tobogganing. It was great and so fast (apart from when we got stuck behind all the little kids) then a few of us got the chance to go down to the lake and have a quick dip. Then we came back for dinner for an end to the night.

Conrad & Matt (over 14s)

When we woke up after a very nice sleep (except for when the others in the bunk room woke us up) of about 11 hours we had a breakfast of porridge and bread. We had hot water to drink as there is no running water available at Frunden Hutte.

We walked out on to the glacier about 8am in our crampons and learned how to climb out of a crevasse with ice axes. It was very cold when we sat down but OK when we moved around.

We walked down from Frunden Hutte, leaving about 1pm and got to Lake Oeschinensee about 2.30pm. Everyone except me and Alex swam in the lake but we woossed out.

Editor's comments:

We were out of the Schwarenbach (pic 1)by 9am and off to Gemmi Pass via the Duechensee lake (I think). The drop from the Gemmi down to Leukerbad is pretty impressive (pic 2), and it is a busy route so we passed lots of walkers. Our pic 3 is the sunset last night from Frunden Hutte, copyright Matt Hornsby.

After coming back past Schwarenbach we headed down the Sunnbuhl and through the centre of town (pic 4) then up the cable car to meet the over 14s. As it was we were running a little late, so we met them at the Rodelbahn (tobogganing) rather than plan A, Lake Oeschinensee. We then went on the rodelbahn, which is always a highlight! See pic 5, 6.

Some of the under 14s popped down to Oeschinensee for a dip and we took a picture to show you just how far up Frunden Hutte is (pic 7). You have to look carefully - it is directly below the glacier in the middle at the top, just under the shadow and to the left of the other glacier on a promontory on its own - it is a tiny white dot!

Dave