Todi Alps : 16th April 2011

Ski five peaks from two mountain huts carrying light packs

Climb and ski from the Todi - the highest mountains in the Glarner Alps at 3614m

The Todi mountains are in Eastern Switzerland between the Bernese Oberland and the Bernina. This little known area at the centre of the Glarner Alps with its majestic glaciers and the Todi peak are a little known ski touring gem.

The Glarner Alps are full of skiable mountains: Gemsfairenstock, Clariden, Gross-Schärhorn and the Tödi itself. The terrain is pretty demanding and you will need to have prior experience with ice axe and crampons. As such we are pitching this week as an advanced tour moving at a quick pace. See the D:A:F scale below.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Fly to Geneva
We collect you from Geneva airport and drive over to our meeting point in the village of Urnerboden. We meet up with Richard, our gudie, and pan the weeks skiing.

DAY 2 - Gemsfairenstock – Claridenhütte
The day starts with a ride up the Argseeli cable car to Fisetengrat, 1869m. Then we continue along the ridge “Ober Orthalden” to 2600m before climbingup a moderately steep slope to the Gemsfairenstock. From the peak we ski directly down to the Claridenhutte.

Day 3 - Clariden - 3267m
Today's route starts with a climb up the stunning slopes on the Clariden glacier to the start of the south west ridge of the Clariden. The mountain has a very striking, snow-covered steep flank. From the summit we ski back to the Claridenhutte for a second night.

Day 4 - Gross-Schärhorn, 3294m
We leave and head across the huge white expanse of the Hüfiglacier, under the Chämlilücke to the south ridge of the Gross-Scharhorn. We leave the skis at 3100m and climb on foot over the steep east slopes to the summit. Then we re-trace our steps back to the Claridenhutte for a third night.

Day 5 - Berggilücke, 2238m – Fridolinshütte, 2111m
A change of scenery today as we move on to the Fridolinshutte. Pure pleasure is guaranteed on the ski decent to the valley at Obersand, 1937m. The ascent to the Berggilücke is not difficult. And then there’s another descent to the Fridolinshütte. A great, but lengthy, day out on skis.

Day 6 - Tödi, 3614m
The highlight of the tour. We attempt the summit of the Todi - 3614m. This is the highest and most impressive mountain in the Glarner Alps. There are cliffs on all sides except the south-east where it is possible to skin up the crevassed Bieferten glacier. It may be necessary to carry the skis between ice falls. Final ascent up the snow shoulder. You then enjoy the view - and a huge 1500 metre descent.

Day 7 - Departure
After a long week and hopefully a good number of peaks "bagged" we have a long ski descent to Tierfed in the Linth valley. We meet our transport back to Urnerboden about 10km away.

DAY 8 - Fly back to London
You are transferred back to Geneva Airport to connect with flights back home.

Please Note: This itinerary may be altered if conditions, weather forecasts or the overall fitness of the group are judged to put the safety of the group at risk. Pyrenean Mountain Tour Guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary without notice. These changes will be explained to the group as and when they occur.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING NEEDED FOR THIS TREK
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with the following:

Technical equipment
Ski Touring Skis with Touring Bindings
Ski Poles
Skins (with good glue!)
Ski Crampons
Crampons
Ice Axe
Ski Strap (for tying top of the skis together when carrying on rucksack)
Avalanche Transceiver
Snow Shovel

Clothing suggestions
Thermal underwear- 1 set as a base layer
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof over trousers
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Warm walking socks
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses/Goggles

Other useful items
40-60 litre rucksack (needs side straps so that you can carry skis)
Head torch and batteries
Sun block for face and lips
Personal First Aid kit (plasters,compede, paracetamol)
Water bottle or Platypus
Penknife

Optional items
Change of clothing to include: underwear,tracksuit bottoms/ long-johns,dry shirt, spare socks.
Camera and film
Paperback novel
Maps
Ear plugs(there is always one snorer)
Snack bars/dried fruit/chocolate
Sheet sleeping bag (if you like them...)

Ski Touring Equipment Hire
Pyrenean Mountain Tours offer a full equipment hire pack. You can hire everything you need for this tour or individual items at the costs shown in the table below. We are unable to provide equipment "last minute" so you need to book what you need well in advance.

Please remember to carry as little gear as possible. A heavy rucksack will make the trip hard work and less fun.

Pyrenean Mountain Tours
2 Rectory Cottages, Rectory Lane, Wolverton,Hants, RG26 5RS, UK
tel and fax: (0044)(0)1635 297209, web: www.pyrenees.co.uk
(Pyrenean Mountain Tours is a trading name of European Mountain Holidays Ltd.)