QMD- to Bettlerjoch
As part of exploring Via Alpina red route (self sufficient with 20kg pack)
9 hours, 18km, 2000m ascent, wildcamp in thunderstorm
Summits: Kolm (1993m) Bettlerjoch Col (2108m)
Big ascent day up from the Rhone valley in warm but claggy conditions. Main first ascent through the forest, starting as a forest trail but soon on to a mapped trail which didn't exist on the ground. Mostly aiming for difference gorges and clearings. After clearing the treeline, a few hundred meters more of steep grassy terrain to Kolm summit.
Dropping down 250m in to the mid-valley, several km through upland farms before ascending to the upper cwms. A large ascent through alpine meadows to Bettler Joch at 2108m. This is technically a col rather than a summit where a wildcamping location was located several hundred meters away in a depression.
Not long in to the night, a surprise un-forecast (supposidly 0% chance) thunderstorm turned up and necessitated some type 3 fun. This included discarding my metals and hiking poles away from the tent, folding up my mattress to crouch on to reduce step voltage.
