Concordia
Origin of the Great Aletsch Glacier (UNESCO world heritage site and the largest and longest glacier in the Alps) is situated in the 3.800m high Jungfrau region. At Concordiaplace, a large 6 km² and only slightly sloping ice area, converge three smaller glaciers:
- From the western mouth flows the great Aletschfirn (9 km long and 1.5 km wide), that extends from the Lötschen pass to Concordiaplace. This glacier section runs along the northern foot of the Aletschhorn and Dreieckhorn. The Aletschfirn is supplied from the north by three notable firns: the Ebnefluhfirn, the Gletscherhornfirn, and the Kranzberfirn
- From the northwestern mouth flows the Jungfraufirn (7km long, 2km above and below 1km wide). It has its origin on the southern flank of the Mönch, at the Jungfraujoch and at the eastern flank of the Jungfrau.
- From the northern mouth flows the Ewigschneefeld (Eternal snow field; 8 km long and averages about 1.2 km wide). Its starting point takes the east flank of the Mönch and the west flanks of the Fiescherhörner.
- Meanwhile, almost inconspicuous, and at the bottom almost completely covered by detritus from the east flows the Grüneggfirn (3km long and 600m wide).
From Concordiaplace the Aletsch glacier flows with a width of 1.5km and 180m per year to the southeast in the Rhône Valley.
The Concordia Hut is situate above the Concordia place. This hut is a popular destination and starting point for many mountaineers and ski tourers. Once a time the hut was built 50 meters above the glacier. Over the decades, the Aletsch glacier melted back dramatically. The man-made stairs testifies of this process as Walk-in from the north to the hut. This stairs should be extended down while the glacier is smelting. Since 1950, the annual decrease in glacier surface on Concordiaplace is about 0.6 m.
More information on Wikipedia: Aletsch Glacier and Concordia hut.
To log this cache you must answer the following two questions and email me the answer and filed a picture of you with the Concordia place in the log:
- Wich number is on the table above the entrance to the hut?
- Count the number of steps of the fixed metal staircase + number of treads of the ladder below to the first platform and write them into the log with the date (eg 17.08.2007: xxxx steps + xx treads)!
- Take a picture of you or your GPS with the Concordiaplace in the background and put it in the log!
After you have mailed the correct answers, you can log in already. Please enter only the answers by mail to me, and please no reports the answers into log. If you like, write your experiences in the log.
Enjoy your glacier tours, and be more careful!!!
I hereby excludes all liability!
Salvation Mountain by tortic
See you soon in the mountains.
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