The Lost Valley is a superb descent onto the Lys Glacier: high mountain and glacier travel experience necessary.

Statistics

1 - 2

hrs

104

m

1,205

m

38

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Severe

Description

The Lost Valley takes its name from an ancient Walser legend of a valley hidden amongst the icy flanks of the Monte Rosa.

Despite the wide slopes and the often great snow conditions, this is a high altitude route with a difficult mountaineering approach and a descent through the glacier between seracs and crevasses.

You must have a good knowledge of glacier travel and mountaineering techniques.

From the top station at Punta Indren, traverse across the left side of the small Indren glacier without loosing height until you reach an extensive rock band (the line of the traverse is usually safe but beware of small crevasses covered by snow).

Keep traversing on the diagonal at the same height (this area is especially prone to slabs forming from high winds).

Continue past a small valley descending from the Mantova hut. From here, climb up to the obvious col situated at the right of a large boulder via the right ridge extending down from the summit of the Altaluce (north ridge, approximately 20 minutes climb).

The entrance to the couloir is equipped with one fixed bolt on the top, and two fixed bolts a further 40m down.

It is difficult to ski down here as it is very narrow and steep (45°) and the snow cover is often poor.

You will need to make two abseils, each of them 40m long.

So if you are without a guide you will need to carry 80m of rope.

At the bottom of the couloir you will land on the Lys glacier.

The first section on the left, near the rock barrier, is not glaciated.

Descend to the south until you reach an obvious change in the angle of the slope, at this point bear left.

After another change of angle in the slope with a cliff below you, traverse to the right (northwest) to find a narrow passage through the seracs and rocks. Continue to ski down the side of the glacier to a flat area before the end of the valley.

Be careful not to ski straight down any further because there is a huge cliff.

Turn right (north) to find the passage that leads to the end of the glacier.

Move onto the other face, following the valley beside the moraine.

The next section is in a wooded area, ski on the right side until the long flat section.

You will reach a block (municipal water system).

From here take the Salza itinerary to Stafal.