Fieschergletscher

Overview: International Space Station photo of the Bernese Alps from SSW (photo ISS013-E-77377). Left Grosser Aletschgletscher; centre-right Fieschergletscher; far left Brienzersee, lower right Rhone Valley with the town of Fiesch, Valais.

Enlarged section of previous photo. The approximate viewing directions in the following photos are shown. Note that the snowline is at a similar altitude as in the following photos.

(1) View across Fieschergletscher, at the level of the snowline, towards Finsteraarhorn, 4273.9m. Finsteraarhorn hut (Swiss Alpine Club) below summit, on the right of the narrow band of snow, above the glacier.

(2) Looking over the accumulation area of Fieschergletscher with several, well developed medial moraines; from right to left: Finsteraarrothorn, 3530.1m; Finsteraarhorn, 4273.9m; Gross Grünhorn, 4043.5m; (far distance) Jungfrau, 4158.9m.

(3) Finsteraarhorn, 4273.9m with a well-developed hanging glacier on its southwestern flank; further back on the left Agassizhorn, 3946m.

(4) View over the lower part of Fieschergletscher, with well-developed medial moraines, looking towards Finsteraarhorn, 4273.9m (left) and Finsteraarrothorn, 3530.1m (right). Joining Fieschergletscher from the right is Galmigletscher.

(5) Below confluence of Galmigletscher and Fieschergletscher; a medial moraine is formed. Far left Jungfrau, 4158.9m; centre horizon Gross Grünhorn, 4043.5m.

(6) Note the progressive bending of transverse crevasses resulting from faster flow in the middle of the glacier. Galmigletscher (centre right) with Oberaarhorn (3631m) and Oberaarrothorn (3477.0m).

The tongue of Fieschergletscher is difficult to access; here it is seen from Fiescheralp. Foto Michael Hambrey, September 2007.