Bishorn summit run from Zinal

25/7/2020 by Christos Kyriazopoulos

It was my first time to attempt climbing a 4000er in a single push from the base of the valley so I decided to do it on an easy one. I set up my tent in an organized camping place in Zinal (1675m) and started preparations. A lot of decisions to be made about what I should take with me or not as every gram counts. I postponed the ascent for one day as my planned summit day was too rainy, and because of this I was only able to check out the start of the trail in the night when it stopped. Having done that I went in my tent to sleep but many thoughts like fresh deep snow on the route, freezing feet because of trail runners etc. didn’t allow me a single minute of sleep. Regardless I decided to go for it…

The Monte Rosa massif.

Preparing for the ascent. All equipment, clothing and food I used. Two litres of water combined with high doses of electrolytes were just enough. The normal-weight crampons and ice axe didn't help too much...

It’s 4:15 am, I put my headlamp on and I head out of my tent rushing towards the trail leading to the Tracuit hut. The signpost in Zinal reads ‘’Tracuit 4h30m’’. The trail is very easy to follow even at night as it is well marked and clearly defined with signposts when needed. As I speed-hike through the forest I gradually reach the alpine zone and then the Torrent du Barmé waterfall (2400m) below the Roc de la Vache in 1h15m. I take off my headlamp as the dawn draws near. Looking to the left high up after the pass the hut doesn’t look to be that far… or is it? Well, with 856 vertical meters remaining, it clearly is! On this part the trail gradually becomes more rocky than before but still easy. A small layer of stepped-on fresh snow that was on the trail about 200m below the hut made the rocks a bit slippery. After climbing a short rock step equipped with a chain, I reach the Tracuit hut (3256m) and the first sun rays in 2h44m.

First sun rays on the Dent Blanche.

After taking a 25min break in the hut to eat and prepare some more electrolytes, I start running on the NW slope (normal route) of Bishorn. The fresh snow was not very much and there was a well defined boot-track by more than 50 people, so I kept running on the flatter part of the glacier until the final slope. Even in the steepest parts snow quality was good enough that I didn’t need to wear crampons at all. Slowing down because of some deep snow further up, I finally reach the summit of Bishorn (4153m) at 9:34am in 5h19m from Zinal. The views were fantastic on every side I looked; the north ridge of the Weisshorn, the Mischabel and the Monte Rosa group!

On the summit of Bishorn with Weisshorn behind me.

Now remained the long drop of 2500 vertical meters to return to Zinal. I started running all the way back to the hut where I took a very short break. Luckily enough my feet were warm enough and dry in the goretex trail runners even after plunging them in some wet snow. So I went on to run all the way to Zinal meeting a lot of hikers going up and some curious cows. I arrived at Zinal at 12:41pm in warm sunny weather where my too hot tent welcomed me (NOT) in total time 8h26m. Even after feeling super tired after all this ascent without sleep, the feeling of experiencing the entire mountain in a day was incomparable!

Taking a break from the quad pain-fest to take a photo of Zinal on the way back.

Check out the GPS track of this ascent on Wikiloc.