66 years ago Angela de Klee (my grandmother) became the first person and woman to ski the North Eigerjoch accompanied by Oskar Gertsch. Come April, I hope to retrace her route after climbing the Eiger peak myself.

In 2003 the DHO (down hill only) Club based in Wengen published a re run of the 1952 article that showed Angela’s feat as a memorial to her passing. This was the article that inspired me to investigate her adventure.

 

Time to turn the transit into a new home for the next 2 months. This requires team mate George.

 

Having completed the slog out to the alps, training time;

A day out in Chamonix with Micheal my guide for the expedition.

 

The days that followed, Vanoise National park.

 

Gone solo…..

The van has put in a shift. Only troubles are at -15c when the fuel takes a while to heat up. 3000 miles and counting.

Now to Wengen to see this mountain and also do some historical digging. On arrival to Wengen I meet with the president of the DHO who produces the original 1952 article. On it there is a portrait of Oskar Gertsch.

The head of tourism said that there was a Philip Gertsch who runs the local Inter-sport ski rental. On meeting Philip I discover he is Oskars great nephew. To his knowledge Oskar had two sons, one unfortunately passed away in an avalanche in Canada the other is on facebook, lives in Interlaken and is a helicopter rescue pilot.

See below, they must be related! I have messaged Oskar and await his response.

 

Another night of the lovely ravioli

 

My first sighting of the Eiger and the Eigerjoch. Mega challenge to say the least. This is not helped by reading The White Spider by Heinrich Harrer. A book on the first ascent of the North Face in 1938. Granted I don’t plan on climbing the North Face (this time round…) but it starts with all the deaths in this area.

The Glacier has shrunk by nearly half in the last 66 years. A local guide has said it is impossible. This comes as a massive blow and very disheartening. But we will still investigate if the weather prevails.

 

Van life is still proving idilic.