Portland, Dorset

Abseiling down to the belay stance in the Bay of Rainbows.

Portland, Dorset

We went to Portland over August bank holiday for some sport climbing. The weather was unusually clement and after a hot and dusty days climbing we went for a quick dip. The sun was setting as we made our way back to the car and I got this picture of some fishermen with their dog walking along the top of the spit that joins Portland to the mainland.

Bernina, Switzerland

Matt modelling the top of Piz Corvatsch.

Bernina, Switzerland

The weather forecast was predicting bad weather for the afternoon so we decided to take advantage of the cable cars at Silvaplana and do a quick ascent of Piz Corvatsch (3451m). This is the view looking south east to Piz Bernina (centre) and Piz Roseg (to the right). The Biancograt can just be seen against the cloud.

Bernina, Switzerland

Bernina, Switzerland

I thought this circular pattern in the ice was quite interesting. Taken from the cable car coming down from the Diavolezza.

Bernina, Switzerland

I really liked the use of the windows at the Diavolezza hut.

Bernina, Switzerland

The infamous Piz Bernina with the Biancograt to the right.

Bernina, Switzerland

Looking up at the summit of Piz Palü.

Bernina, Switzerland

The dry glacier that we crossed at the end of the route.

Bernina, Switzerland

The wet glacier at the base of Piz Palü.

Bernina, Switzerland

We didn't finish our route until quite late so we had to spend another night in the Diavolezza. But this time we got up late and had a very leisurely breakfast. Before getting the lift back down we spent a bit of time admiring the views and feeling pleased with ourselves! I took these two pictures together to try to show our route (starting from left to right).

Bernina, Switzerland

Me on the edge of my first ever glacier and at the bottom of my first ever Alpine peak at about half past 5. The central peak in the picture is the east summit of Piz Palü with the actual summit on the right. Our route took us on a traverse over all three. Thanks to Matt for the picture.

Bernina, Switzerland

The view from the Diavolezza hut varies enormously from the glacier and snow capped peaks of Piz Palü and Piz Bernina to the south and west to this rocky scene looking east. We had to make an early start on Piz Palu and knew that the first part of the climb would be in the dark so we went out the night before to make sure we knew where we were going. This was taken just after sunset on the path heading out to Piz Palü.

Bernina, Switzerland

The summit of Piz Palü, 3900m.

Bernina, Switzerland

We climbed in the Dolomites for a week then drove west into Switzerland. Our intention was to stay high in the Bernina region for a few days and climb Piz Bernina via the Biancograt but sense, fear, weather and a crowded weekend meant that we ended having a change of plan. We took the Diavolezza cable car up to the hut and stayed Saturday night at 2973m. I took this picture of Piz Palü at about 9pm that evening. The summit is the central peak with the east summit to the left and the west summit to the right.