Piz Alv 2769m

Lots of descent for little ascent on a very special mountain peak where Uri, Ticino and Graubuenden meet in the Swiss Central Alps. We could say this may be the very centre of the Alps...
btw also first report on skis for this peak on hikr.org

Very efficiently we get to almost 3000m at the top of Gemsstock - I guess by the time we started our descent it was 9.30am. Skiing down is easy and piste-like, some icy sections. Despite the many traces I found this a very interesting scenery and interesting topography as the route at some stage follows a very cool narrow gorge close to Gafallensaum.

At Vermigel we take a small break, put on our skins and start moving up towards Maighels Pass. At Portgeren we leave the normal route and deviate ESE, shortcutting Maighels Pass and heading up directly to the ridge St. Petersstoekli. On this route we find one 40 degree slope, very icy, narrow turns with Harscheisen are a must.

We get on the broad ridge close to the 's' of Peterstoekli, and after a short break continue, now following a faint trace of several days before, along the NE flank of Piz Alv. We reached the alpine main ridge W of Passo Bornengo at ca. 2700m. Skidepot in stormy wind. We follow the beautyful E ridge (a short 40 degree passage) in good walking snow and in 15min we summit  Piz Alv.

Exceptional 360 degrees views ranging from Weisshorn to Toedi. Much less windy on the summit we enjoy being on the main alpine watershed and ridge, having the head in TI, one foot in GR and one in URI :-) after 20 min we decide to descend.

We now descend via Passo Bornengo and ski down the steeper N side in very good conditions. Back on our tracks we can ski our first lines onto another short but steep (40 degrees)section until Portgeren where we traverse, joining the tracks from Maighels Pass. We descend to Vermigel where we have a break. The sun is leaving already so we descend rapidly all the way to Andermatt via the Unteralptal where we have a drink at the bar.

Conditions: mostly hard wind pressed weight-carrying snow. Icy at times. Harscheisen are required for steeper sections >35 degrees. In the afternoon the snow was very wet and heavy, temperatures very mild. Below 1600m snow is starting to be rare... we need more.
Moderate to strong wind from NE almost blew us off the ridge. Otherwise: le grand bleu with a few hazy clouds.

A really cool tour at the centre of the Alps !

Thanks to Chris and Lena.