A place that hardly anyone knows about; a glacial lake that will soon disappear. Two people want to experience it up close and from the air. Andreas Busslinger and Jürgen Niederer set off on a micro-adventure and let raw nature and silence work their magic.
The glacier adventure at the Geren Pass
Hardly anyone knows the Bedretto Valley in the north of Ticino canton. It is off the beaten track, is wild, confusing and rugged. That's exactly what attracts Andy and Jürgen. A tip-off leads the two of them to the Geren Pass. There's a glacial lake, formed just a few years ago by the retreat of the Chüeboden Glacier. It's a place of rare beauty with an expiry date. In a few years the lake will probably have disappeared, so that's where they want to go. To see, to spend the night, to fly.
Even during the planning stage, it is clear that it will not be possible to take off from the lake. Too steep, too much scree, too risky. But there is a solution: a little further down there are promising takeoff sites – the destination for the next day. The path to the lake is rough, they have to go carefully. On the opposite slope, boulders keep breaking loose and thundering down into the valley. The path leads along the edge – it's a fine line between risk and reward, but this tension is what makes the experience so special.
Silent nights, noisy mountains
The glacial lake lies at an altitude of 2,671 metres. Secluded, silent, with sharp contours. Shortly before sunset, visitors appear: a few ibexes, high up on the slope. Calm, almost indifferent, they observe the human intruders. A silent, intense moment.
Then night falls. We pitch our tent, open a bottle of wine and eat dinner from our rucksacks. This is how we end the day, under a sky that is rarely seen. The Milky Way stretches across the valley, the stars shine brightly. It is an astronomical image that is real up here. Between conversations and moments of silence, we listen to the mountains. The rumbling of falling boulders is like background music in this fragile landscape. The night by the lake is magical and an experience that will stay with us forever.
Ready to take off
Next morning, the two pilots have some time. They want to wait until the thermals start before taking off to enjoy views of the lake and the landscape from above. The conditions look promising, the time comes. They take off in perfect conditions.
For two hours they circle above the lake, the moraines, the scree, the turquoise-blue water. Thermals carry them to an altitude of over 3,000 metres. The magic of the landscape only really reveals itself from the air. At some point the sky begins to change and the first clouds roll in. It's time to fly back down into the valley. Just as it began, the little adventure ends at the Geren Pass; peacefully and surrounded by nature. What is left is magnificent images and lasting impressions.
The Equipment
The Team
Andy Busslinger
Andy is recognised as one of the most respected of paragliding photographers, and is a teacher by profession. In his spare time he likes to go paragliding.
Jürgen Niederer
Jürgen is a paraglider pilot and passionate cross-country pilot. With every flight and adventure he gains new experiences and discovers freedom between sky and earth.