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The Grimsel Pass is one hell of a day out. A remote mountain pass at 2136m tucked away at the Eastern end of the Goms region, at the very head of the River Rhone.

Recently we have been suffering from a slight lack of new snow. There is a good base and it is holding well in the recent cold weather. The wind has been pretty constant and we have had plenty of snow kiting on the Simplon Pass. The pistes are being well maintained and a day in a resort is still fun. But the Grimsel Pass has been something different altogether.

When the wind forecast is looking good and we have a few adventurous souls in our midst the decision is made the night before to head to the Grimsel. This involves packing as many different sized kites in to as few bags as possible, loading the van and getting an early night.

An early rise, a coffee, a Schoggi Gipfel (Pain au Chocolat) on the move and a 45 minute drive to Oberwald later and we find ourselves loading kites, snow shoes, skis, snowboards and some provisions onto to the ski-doo.  The ski-doo tows two trailers, one for the luggage and one with six seats for the passengers. The driver and another passenger ride pillion and the first part of the journey begins. The track starts as a snow covered main road before narrowing to a forest track winding through the woodland as it climbs the mountain. The snow here lies thick on the trees and the effect is truly spectacular. After 15 minutes we emerge from the tree line to incredible mountain views of the surrounding peaks and Oberwald deep below. At this point passengers and luggage are transferred to a huge snow cat. Its not 5 star transport (blankets are available for those who want them) but it definately gets you up some serious inclines.

The snow cat delivers everyone to the Grimsel Blick Hotel. This outpost of hospitality is nestled in a bowl, all alone high up in one of the most snow prone parts of Switzerland. An espresso later and a short stroll to the middle of the pass and we  find ourselves surrounded by a vast area of untouched snow. A snow kiting heaven, flat areas, powdery lumps and bumps, steep open slopes, soft ridges and smooth gullies.

I have been here four times now and each time has offered different experiences. We have always had wind although on one occassion it was frustratingly light with the odd 10 minute pulses of solid wind. We have always had fresh snow. We have had most wind directions offering different ways in which to exploit the landscape. It has always been sunny.

At the end of the day when legs are aching and arms feel like jelly everything is packed up and the journey home begins. The first part is a go slow stroll along the pisted track, carrying equipment, head bowed, plod, plod, plod (thank god for snoe shoes!). Once a certain point of the path is reached it is then downhill all the way. The first part offers open high mountain slopes of fresh powder for 2km, the second part a cruising slide along the forest track back to where we started maybe with a beer stop in a small woodland hotel near the bottom.

A trip to Grimsel on a good forecast can be a gamble but one worth taking. Nothing beats the exhausted silence of a van load of people, each thinking about what a great day it has been.

 

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