Pilatus / Galtigentürme
A climbing loop on the Galtigen towers of the Pilatus — multi-pitch on the limestone towers high above the Lucerne lowlands.
Over the Galtigentürme to the Pilatus
The Galtigentürme are a line of rock towers at the northern foot of the Pilatus, above Alpnachstad. Over the Mattalp you climb up to the towers, take them as a multi-pitch at grade 4c, traverse past the Rossegg and on to the Pilatus Kulm. A fine spring tour before the mountain season properly begins.
Tip: Early in the season the lift often isn’t running yet, and the traverse to the Pilatus can still hold a lot of snow — sure-footedness on old snow is then called for. The towers themselves, facing south, are usually snow-free already.
How it went for me
The lift wasn’t running yet because of the snow, and though the towers were snow-free, everything lay in fog — a lovely, muted mood. We didn’t find the start of the towers straight away; we went on a long rope and with trail runners on our feet. The traverse to the Pilatus still held plenty of snow. Along the way we met three guys descending through the snow in trainers, looking for the main path. A lovely tour — I’d happily do it again on a day you can actually see something.