Skip to content 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 
