day before . . . the Bellavista (left center horizon) and the Buuch icefall (below it to right) seen from the main road near Mortaretsch. On the right horizon above the Buuch is the Crast Agüzza rock, and along the right side of the Buuch is the lower flank of the Piz Bernina
Piz Bernina (behind) and Piz Mortaretsch (3751m) seen from the main road near Mortaretsch. The sun-accented ridge on right summit of the Bernina is the Biancograt
still day before . . . Bellavista, Crast Agüzza (3854m), and Piz Bernina (4049m) across the Vadret Pers glacier from the Berghaus Diavolezza. Bright snow slope near the middle is the lower apron of the Fortezza ridge
the Bellavista (3922m): The broad high slope under its four peaks is the "terrace" (sometimes traversed on skis)
Piz Palü (3901m) -- normal ski route goes up to its east shoulder on the left, and most skiers don't go to the true summit
now the big day -- early start on the glacier
safely across one glacier, climbing toward the next
Piz Palü
climbing south toward the Bellavista, but soon we will leave the ridge to get into the Buuch icefall
west to the Piz Bernina, with Spallagrat ridge on left horizon and Biancograt ridge on right
bearing away from the rocks ahead blocking the ridge
dawn light across the Bellavista, with the Crast Agüzza rock far right
dawn light on the Piz Bernina -- we climbed to the Fuocla Crast Agüzza pass on its left, then up the Spallagrat ridge, leaving our skis about halfway up the ridge
Andi leading into the Buuch icefall
seracs in the Buuch icefall - (with Piz Kesch far north on the horizon)
ski tracks crossing a crevasse whose bridge collapsed - ? during or after the crossing ?
guessing from all this evidence of skier activity around this crevasse, maybe the bridge collapsed ? while the skier was on it?
results of punching into the snow with a ski pole - (I was roped)
east face of the Piz Bernina, with the summit above right and the Spallagrat climb on the horizon left from summit
Rifugio Marco e Rosa hut, just west of the Fuocla Crast Agüzza pass
southwest toward Monte Disgrazia to the left, Piz Badile somewhere on right horizon
Spallagrat rock section on left, Piz Bernina summit bright to right
Bellavista (3922m) + in center Piz Zupo (3996m) + in sun Piz Argient (3945m) -- our main ski descent started near the sunny patch to left below Bellavista
Spallagrat ridge and Piz Bernina summit, with the east face below
our climbing tracks on first part of ridge: from the notch traverse right across face under rocks, then climb up to the ridge, then walk on the very narrow ridge
skis left behind below the notch, Ken climbing on the Spallagrat, with Piz Zupo + Piz Argient beyond
looking east down across the Buuch icefall, which we somehow climbed thru -- Piz Palü right of center, Bellavista terrace to right
north along the Spallagrat to the Piz Bernina summit
south to our climbing tracks on the narrow snow ridge of the Spallagrat, which we will also descend on foot
on skis again: traversing toward above the top of the Buuch icefall -- we decided to climb up a little to try to get into a better main descent route.
Andi climbing thru some seracs to reach the top of our main descent route
starting down thru the Buuch icefall
it's a long way to the bottom, about 1900 vertical meters / 6200 ft of skiing, mostly with crevasses + seracs
tracks of our ascent route visible above right
not a place to be skiing except in very secure conditions
"bird" serac just behind Ken
strange obstacles
our ski tracks below "the Labyrinth" of seracs
on down toward the gentler lower section of the Mortaretsch glacier - (still with big crevasses under the new snow)
just below the end of the glacier, we meet another backcountry skiing party on the walker's trail
looking back up the Buuch icefall (most of our ski route not visible) and the "Labyrinth" of seracs with the Crast Agüzza rock directly behind
