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