Training Log Archive: Stijn

Day 2 took us up and over the Sella Group via some easy via ferratas and up to 3000masl. Crossed through a massive road bike race at one of the road pass crossings (Passo Gardena). Then a gradual, green descent to the base of the Marmolada on Passo Fedaia. Spectacular and long day!

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move227044313

Fran has joined me up in Europe and we've started with a 5-day hike along the Alta Via 2 through the Dolomites. Staying in refuges so carrying light and doubling-up most days.

Day 1 was from Passo Rodella to Rifugio Puez via some beautiful meadows and rugged scree gullies.

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move227044234

Not getting much running done lately so squeezed in a quick morning run up to the glacier snout again with Fi & Craig. Great views of the peaks we had summitted over the last few days :)

TE 2.8 http://www.movescount.com/moves/move226544502

We descend back to the valley by traversing the Piz Palu (3900m). Less technical than the day before but a really beautiful, striking ridgeline that was well worth doing. Long descent through many crevasses & seracs on the glacier down to the Diavolezza lift and the end of a fantastic few days in the Alps with old friends... loved it!

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move226391591

The big one. Piz Bernina (4049m) via the Biancograt, which is one of the classic ridgelines of the Alps. Also goes at grade AD III which is the hardest alpine route I've done, with plenty of roped climbing and abseils along the narrow, exposed ridge. Conditions were pretty perfect, except for the strong wind which made things pretty chilly when the going was slow.

We were strong on the easier (less-technical) sections, getting a good position in the inevitable queue along the crux 400m horizontal crest. Our rope management definitely needs some work and we had guided parties climbing over/through/around us when we took too long to set up an abseil. Gotta keep it safe though! Took us just over 3 hours for those 400m to the summit! Straightforward glacier descent from there to the Marco e Rosa Hut, with another 2 abseils along the way.

Such a full-on day!!

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move226391594

Brrr morning run up to the glacier and back with Fi.

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move225971011

Afternoon hike up to the Tschiervahütte with Fi & Craig.

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move226391605

Quick scout of the start of the route to Bernina with Fi.

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move226391610

Crap weather moved in overnight and it was snowing in the morning. So we abandoned plans to cross back over the glacier into Switzerland and followed the road down to the bus connection in Austria instead.

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move225816800