- A dusky Salbitschijen and the unmistakable Sudgrat seen in profile from the Salbithutte
- Alpenglow on the Gemsstock, looking south east towards Andermat from the terrace of the Salbithutte
- The Sudgrat silhouetted at dusk – inspiring stuff! Photo credit: Ric Hines
- Nearing the first abseil at the end of the fourth pitch with miles of impeccable granite to go! Photo credit: Ric Hines
- Miles of granite in the sky – the meat of the Sudgrat from the top of the fourth pitch
- The bigger, badder, brother of the Sudgrat, the Westgrat
- A climber scopes out the abseil from the second tower on the Westgrat
- Austrian leader nearing the end of pitch 6 as the exposure builds. Photo credit: Ric Hines
- Colourful Austrian climber on pitch 7.
- Motoring on above the crux
- Seconding the sublime crux pitch, totally absorbed in the climbing. Photo credit: Ric Hines
- Approaching the belay at the end of the crux pitch – time to pause for a moment and appreciate the position. Photo credit: Ric Hines
- Ric moves smoothly up endless exfoliating flakes while the summit never seems to get any closer in the pristine air
- The never-ending towers and gendarmes of the Westgrat in all their glory – one to go back for!
- Nearly there! An abseil and a short scramble from here takes you to the final wall where the Austrians can just be seen on the final pitch
- The first of the three headwall pitches – similar in difficulty but different in style to the ridge below
- Happy climber on the Salbit summit needle. We chose dinner at the hut over queuing for the last 10m, so technically we need to go back to finish it…
- Looking down the Westgrat from the base of the summit needle. A climber can just been seen between the horns of the rightmost tower