Crag features

This crag is in Switzerland, Bernese Oberland and is covered by the Schweiz Plaisir West guidebook

Another impressive sweep of slabs high in the Grimsel Pass standing alongside the reservoir above the dam.
Not unlike climbing in Avon at the weekend with the continuous roar of many motorbikes wending their way up the Grimsel Pass.

Characteristic of this valley the slabs vary between crystalline and very rough granite to pink smooth stuff that appears to be as fine as a kitchen worktop but still somehow manages to grip your rock boots.

The routes are exhilarating to climb with their great outlook across the reservoir and present good photo opportunities as you look down and appear to be on a sheer face ending in deep water!

Some routes have their names painted at the start and you can use these to get a fix on where you are. Very popular spot at the weekend and also very popular with walkers who use the path hewn from the granite at the base of the slab, so even if this is Switzerland do be careful about where you leave your gear when on the route.

Descent can be made from all routes by abseil. Bolts are placed at good intervals and most routes have been re-equipped recently. Some pitches may hold some seepage after longer periods of rain but this does not normally present a problem.

The paths were prepared by those working on the hydroelectric scheme and there is some info about this on the way to the route, including about a large crystal cave beneath the dam (which you can get a tour into on some days during the week).