Blüemlisalp
Encyclopedia
The Blüemlisalp is a massif of the Bernese Alps
, in the territory of the municipalies of Kandersteg
and Reichenbach im Kandertal
.
Its main peaks are:
The entire massif is contained within the canton of Berne
, and forms a northern extension to the main range of the Bernese alps. To the west, it is connected with the Doldenhorn
group via the Oeschinenhorn and Fründenhorn peaks; to the east, it is continued by the Gspaltenhorn
.
Ascent is from the Blüemlisalphütte (2,840 m), over the glacier, past the Wildi Frau
(3,260 m)
, is a minor summit — the Fründenhorn (3,369 m). In front of the main ridge, as seen from the northwest, e. g. from the Dündenhorn
, are seen three minor peaks which project as steep islets of rock from the great glacier-fields that cover that side of the mountain. These are the Wildi Frau
(3,260 m), the Ufem Stock (3,221 m), and the Blümlisalp Rothhorn (3,297 m).
The two main feeders of the Blüemlisalp Glacier (German: Blüemlisalpgletscher) flow downwards through the openings between the three last-named summits, but a short branch from the ice-stream that descends between the Wildi Frau and the Ufem Stock turns to the north, and flows into the head of the Kiental
.
, accompanied by Liveing and Stone, with Melchior Anderegg
and Pierre Simond of Argentière as guides. Starting from the chalets of the Oeschinenalp at 2 a.m., they reached the ridge near the Dündengrat at 4.15. Then mounting over snowfields, and the glacier lying between the Wilde Frau and the Ufem Stock, they passed behind, or south, of the latter summit, and gained the depression between the Blüemlisalp Rothhorn and the highest peak at 6 a.m. They finally reached the top 2 hours laters, Stephen wrote:
Bernese Alps
The Bernese Alps are a group of mountain ranges in the western part of the Alps, in Switzerland. Although the name suggests that they are located in the Bernese Oberland region of the canton of Bern, portions of the Bernese Alps are in the adjacent cantons of Valais, Lucerne, Obwalden, Fribourg and...
, in the territory of the municipalies of Kandersteg
Kandersteg
Kandersteg is a municipality in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located along the valley of the River Kander, west of the Jungfrau massif. It is noted for its spectacular mountain scenery and sylvan alpine landscapes. Tourism is a...
and Reichenbach im Kandertal
Reichenbach im Kandertal
Reichenbach im Kandertal is a municipality in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Until 1957 it was known as Reichenbach bei Frutigen.-Geography:...
.
Its main peaks are:
- Blüemlisalphorn (3,664 m)
- Wyssi Frau (3,650 m) 46°29′35"N 7°47′0"E
- Morgenhorn (3,623 m) 46°29′46"N 7°47′28"E
The entire massif is contained within the canton of Berne
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...
, and forms a northern extension to the main range of the Bernese alps. To the west, it is connected with the Doldenhorn
Doldenhorn
The Doldenhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps. It is located above Lake Oeschinen near Kandersteg, Switzerland....
group via the Oeschinenhorn and Fründenhorn peaks; to the east, it is continued by the Gspaltenhorn
Gspaltenhorn
The Gspaltenhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps....
.
Ascent is from the Blüemlisalphütte (2,840 m), over the glacier, past the Wildi Frau
Wildi Frau
Wildi Frau is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
(3,260 m)
Geography
The Blüemlisalp forms a ridge of great height, cut away in precipices on the southeast side, surmounted by four principal peaks, in the following order, reckoning from east to west: Morgenhorn (3,623 m), Weisse Frau (3,650 m), the Blüemlisalphorn (3,661 m) and the Oeschinenhorn (3,486 m). To the southwest of the last peak, and between it and the DoldenhornDoldenhorn
The Doldenhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps. It is located above Lake Oeschinen near Kandersteg, Switzerland....
, is a minor summit — the Fründenhorn (3,369 m). In front of the main ridge, as seen from the northwest, e. g. from the Dündenhorn
Dündenhorn
The Dündenhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
, are seen three minor peaks which project as steep islets of rock from the great glacier-fields that cover that side of the mountain. These are the Wildi Frau
Wildi Frau
Wildi Frau is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
(3,260 m), the Ufem Stock (3,221 m), and the Blümlisalp Rothhorn (3,297 m).
The two main feeders of the Blüemlisalp Glacier (German: Blüemlisalpgletscher) flow downwards through the openings between the three last-named summits, but a short branch from the ice-stream that descends between the Wildi Frau and the Ufem Stock turns to the north, and flows into the head of the Kiental
Kiental
Kiental is a village in the Bernese Oberland in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Kiental enters the annals of world history due to the Kiental Conference held in 1916.-History:Kiental Conference...
.
First ascent
The highest peak was ascended in 1860 by Leslie StephenLeslie Stephen
Sir Leslie Stephen, KCB was an English author, critic and mountaineer, and the father of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell.-Life:...
, accompanied by Liveing and Stone, with Melchior Anderegg
Melchior Anderegg
Melchior Anderegg , from Zaun, Meiringen, was a Swiss mountain guide and the first ascensionist of many prominent mountains in the western Alps during the golden and silver ages of alpinism...
and Pierre Simond of Argentière as guides. Starting from the chalets of the Oeschinenalp at 2 a.m., they reached the ridge near the Dündengrat at 4.15. Then mounting over snowfields, and the glacier lying between the Wilde Frau and the Ufem Stock, they passed behind, or south, of the latter summit, and gained the depression between the Blüemlisalp Rothhorn and the highest peak at 6 a.m. They finally reached the top 2 hours laters, Stephen wrote:
- "We reached the top at 8 a.m., and had a grand view down the cliffs to the Tschingel Glacier, as well as a very fine view over the Swiss plains, and a general panorama resembling that from the Altels, returning easily to Kandersteg by 2 p.m."
External links
- The Blüemlisalphorn on SummitPost
- http://www.bluemlisalphuette.com/
- images of north face ascent