TR: Eiger W Face Switzerland. Long, steep, deep, exhausting, and worth it

[gimpy]

just wow.. thats one that will stick with you forever. thanx

[Incompetent Boob]

Sweet write up and probably once in a decade conditions.

[Orash111]

Another Euro TR of wearing harnesses and not being roped...don't you guy know anything about east coast snow safety?

Sorry, couldn't resist (see Mt Blanc thread)

Haha, no worries. I was the only one of the two who wore a harness, and it was more just for the ease of clipping stuff to it and just incase stuff went really wrong and we'd need a heli evac or I'd get on ice and need an ice screw anchor. No rope was taken. I don't think I've ever seen a crevasse on the west face actually.

[garyfromterrace]

Haha, no worries. I was the only one of the two who wore a harness, and it was more just for the ease of clipping stuff to it and just incase stuff went really wrong and we'd need a heli evac or I'd get on ice and need an ice screw anchor. No rope was taken. I don't think I've ever seen a crevasse on the west face actually.

Superb work Orash! Fine style! So it is true that folks wear a harness out that way when things can get sporty (and possibly sketchy) for ease in evac. Good thinking eh.

Great photos and write up too!

[subtle plague]

nice snow.... sometimes you have steep stuff and nice pow.

[Tectonically_Neglected]

Sweet! And well earned...

[PlayItLeo]

Well played, sir. Well played.

[Scottish_Skier]

Nice line, great photos, good write up.
Enjoyed it from the comfort & safety of my cubical.
TGR needs more of this.

[schindlerpiste]

You are The Man! That is pretty impressive.

I love that part of the world.

[MadPatSki]

Really impressive.

Nicely done. WOW!!!

[DasBlunt]

rad stoke and sweet turns.

[BrianH]

Awesome and double plus bonus for me having just watched The Eiger Sanction last night. I saw some great establishing shots of the West face and it made me wonder about skiing it. Waiting three years shows how patience is a key mountaineering skill.

But I do wonder if you are confusing acclimatization with conditioning. After all, ~4000 meters is still pretty high and enough to cause problems, especially coming from 400 meters.

Myth #3 - Physical fitness protects against altitude sickness.

Physical fitness offers no protection from altitude illness. In fact, many young fit athletes drive themselves too hard at altitude prior to acclimatizing thinking they can push through the discomfort. They ignore signs of altitude illness thinking it can't affect them because they are fit and healthy. Everyone, regardless of fitness, is susceptible to AMS.

http://www.altitudemedicine.org/inde...ll-at-altitude

[DeathVan]

That's the real deal Stoke!

[tone capone]

Pretty sick!

[yeahman]

Just when you think TGR is a total waste of time, something like this shows up. Thanks for sharing this great TR.

[CarveMan]

w000t!! Epic effort, way to get after a stunning line!!!!

I wear a harness so my guide or the PGHM can winch me (or my carcass) out of a crevasse. The ice axe on my pack is for preservation of personal space in the lift line.

[goldenboy]

Thanks for posting!

[m-ruta]

Damn, nice work. I've wanted to make turns on that mountain since I was about 12. Someday I'll ski it and when I do I hope to have even half as good of conditions as you did. I'm jealous.

[verbier61]

Chapeau!

[geo039]

Ditto!! Nice work!

Chapeau!

[madturtle]

Daaaamn...Well done!

[AngryBeard]

the scale of big mountains blows me away every time... when you see a single line down a big face it's hard to wrap your head around the fact that lines are so long.. without know it could just as easily be a 500m face

awesome job, I want to get on that

[_Aaron_]

1000m left to go:

Killing it!

[Slaag Master]

yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[neck beard]

Missed this.

Fantastic.

Envious.