The Sorcerer, Ghost Valley

The Sorcerer, Ghost Valley

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Blue Magic

We had a great day yesterday climbing up above Kandersteg on a route called Blue Magic.


Blue Magic grade 5+


It was perfect conditions only around minus 2, but it stayed that way for the whole day. Considering the warm weather we've been having, I think we caught it just right with the ice having the feeling of being welded to the rock behind & totally dry, but not brittle.


Me half way up the first pitch on Blue Magic



Me working the second pitch of blue Magic



Colin following the second pitch on Blue Magic



Me heading up the third pitch on Blue Magic


The route is 6 pitches in length, but we linked the bottom 2 pitches together giving us 5 great pitches of steep & technical ice to climb.



Blue Magic clearly stands out as the continuous long streak of ice on the big wall on the right.

It's a fantastic view up the valley to the surrounding peaks, which you can see by taking only a short walk from the centre of town.

Kandersteg's a great steep ice climbing venue & it's amazing how this winter it's been fantastic conditions, then it all fell down & became washed out in the warm weather, but it's since reformed in the recent colder spell, giving superb climbing. However it is starting to look thin again on some of the routes and again a little washed out, but it will be interesting to see how the season continues & what the weather does.

Safe climbing

Ade













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