Peter Sibley and Mark Conner, joined Mark (and Kathy too) for a few days of climbing more or less around Zermatt. The weather forecast looked dubious to start, so we elected to climb the fairly straightforward Bishorn, a peak just north of the Weisshorn, between the Mattertal and Zinal valley. Kathy was able to join us for this mini-expedition. After the Bishorn we switched bases to the Saas valley, climbing the Weissmies as a day route. And our last of four days was spent rock climbing in the sun on the Riffelhorn.

Peter making peace with the natives on the hike up to the Tracuit hut on the Bishorn.

No, this is not the Tracuit hut, but a way-stop along the path. A good place for lunch and a brief rest.

This is the Tracuit hut the morning of our Bishorn climb. A few other climbers are gearing up for the departure.

A group of three heading up to the Bishorn.

Mark, Kathy and Peter, only a few steps from the summit. We were in and out of the cloud for most of the climb.

Mark and Peter on the Bishorn's summit. The ridge leading up to the Weisshorn behind.

Another view of the Weisshorn's North Ridge.

Kathy and Peter head down the summit slopes.

Lower on the glacier, not far from the Tracuit hut, dark, ominous clouds cover the sky.

And on the hike down to Zinal and the car, it starts to snow.

After a long and wet hike down from the Tracuit hut, we retreat to Saas Fee. Fortunately, the following day was fine. Here, we are climbing the normal route on the Weissmies. Four climbers on the final exposed slope to the summit.

Peter and Mark on the summit. The Täschhorn and Dom behind.

Not far below the summit of the Weissmies.

Always the fun-hogs, the boys decided to eschew the cable car lift from Kreuzboden to Saas Grund and employ a more sporting method of descent.

The final sprint into Saas Grund.

Having had enough (for the time being) of 4000ers, we decided to go for a bit of rock climbing on the Riffelhorn. The outing starts with a ride up the Gornergrat rack-and-pinion railway to the Rotenboden station.

The subject of the subject of the previous photo.

Roping up and changing to rock shoes on the Riffelhorn.

Peter and Mark on one of the many slab routes on the south face of the Riffelhorn. This four-pitch route took us to the shoulder of the east ridge, where we continued to the summit.

Enjoying the comforts and security of the bench at the Rotenboden station. Monte Rosa behind.