On our way to the Wiesbadener Grätle

The normal route from Austria to Piz Buin is an easy one. The main part of it is ascending the scenic Ochsental glacier, up to the Buinlüke, the saddle just west of the peak. From there, it's a relatively short bit of hiking and some easy scrambling for the final 250m up to the summit. The scenery is beautify, but a bit more exitement wouldn't hurt. North of the peak, on the east side of the Ochsental glacier, lies a jagged rocky ridge, the Wiesbadener Grätle. Following the ridge to the south wouln't lead to the summit, only to the far more jagged, short NE ridge of Piz Buin. Nevertheless the Wiesbadener Grätle offers a more interesting route option over the normal one: coming from the north, after going up the Vermunt glacier east of the ridge, a nice scramble brings you across it and onto the Ochsental glacier high up, close to Piz Buin. From there, a short easy glacier walk leads to the normal route shortly before the Buinlücke. In this photo it's is still early in the morning, and we're not all that far from the Wiesbadener Hütte yet. We're approaching the Vermunt glacier, but the bright sun is already shining on the Wiesbadeneron Grätle. The top of the dome on the left is the top of Piz Buin. 23 July 2013.