Gear notes

Nothing here is sponsored. These are the things that survived more than two seasons.

Footwear

Mid-cut boots with a stiff sole for anything graded T3 and above. For the panorama trails a pair of trail runners is enough and far more comfortable on the descents.

Layers

A thin merino base layer, a light fleece and a shell. Even in August the wind on the Faulhorn ridge is cold, and the weather turns in twenty minutes.

Map and navigation

The 1:25 000 national maps are still the best. A phone with the official map app as a backup, kept in flight mode to save the battery.

Small things that matter

• Sun hat and a high-factor cream, the altitude burns quickly.
• A two-litre bladder plus a small bottle for refilling at fountains.
• Cash for the huts; cards do not always work above the tree line.
• A headlamp, even for day hikes. The last gondola does not wait.