Traverse north-south (Schönhalden - Weisstannen) | Mountain hiking

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- Traverse north-south (Schönhalden - Weisstannen)
Traverse north-south (Schönhalden - Weisstannen)

Traverse north-south (Schönhalden - Weisstannen) Hochfinsler 2421 m

Difficulty

T4+
Ascent

3–4 h, 1100 m
Descent

3–4 h, 1550 m

Little Tibet between the cantons

The high plain between the Weisstannen/Seez valleys and Sernftal may have a slight resemblance with Tibet, but there are no yaks, monasteries or prayer flags. Instead it offers grazing cattle and a colourful landscape. Every natural terrain unit is a world of its own, every ridge calls for being climbed. The main ridge with Hochfinsler as its highest point is the orientation through this secluded world. On this hike many small summits are traversed. Once you reach Chläuifurggla, you have already completed five. There are many more to climb, possibly a dozen or more. After the long panorama hike, the descent to the wild Weisstannental awaits hikers.

The beginning: the gentle plain between Guscha and Steingässler; in the background is Hochfinsler. © Fabian Lippuner

Definitely not hiking terrain: „Zigerchnörri“ on the way to Hochfinsler © Fabian Lippuner

The itinerary almost always follows the ridge line. © Fabian Lippuner

Route description

Schönhalden - Guscha - Steingässler

From the Schönhalden summit station the marked mountain hiking trail goes initially southward, at P. 1711 it turns westward to reach the ridge with a summit cross (viewpoint). Continue on a trail with initial white-red-markings, then without any to reach Steingässler.

Steingässler - Hochfinsler - Chläuifurggla

From here on there are only faint paths. Scramble up an escarpment following a faint path directly on the ridge line (short climbing passages, T4). Continue on a faint path, which follows ledges on the western face below the ridge line. The Hochgamatsch summit can be reached on a short detour through a couloir (T4+). A steep couloir on the east side leads to the foot of a bizarre rock tower (called by the locals «Zigerchnörri», no name on the map, P. 2358). It is grade III exposed climbing. Now follow an undemanding faint path on the grassy slopes of the east face of Hochfinsler to reach the summit. Continue southward on the ridge across four small summits called Apöstel. Some rocky escarpments are climbed easily (T4) or bypassed. Descend steeply but without difficulty to Chläuifurggla.

Chläuifurggla - Langrain - Weisstannen

At Chläuifurggla you meet a number of marked mountain hiking trails. To reach the descent to Weisstannental it is best to go southward to P. 2285, traverse the grassy ridge Langrain (P. 2270) and meet the white-red-white marked trail down to Weisstannen Dorf via Obergalans and Untergalans; Madchopf can be climbed or left out.

Variant: return to Schönhalden from Chläuifurggla

From Chläuifurggla follow a marked faint path to Chläui, then the poorly maintained mountain hiking trail traversing the east face of Hinderchamm to reach Pfufisegg, a popular ski touring target in winter. Via Mädems Hintersäss you meet the ascent route at P. 1711. Roughly 2 h from Chläuifurggla (1 h less than the descent to Weisstannental).

Additional information

Departure point

Wildenberg / Schönhalden, Bergstation (1487 m)

Berghotel Schönhalden https:/www.schoenhalden.ch at the mountain station.

Information about the cable car: http:/www.schoenhalden.chseilbahn

Buses Flums Bahnhof-Saxlirank only during the week, on foot approx. 45 min or https:/www.taxi-walensee.ch

Get there Google Maps

Flumserberg Saxli, Saxlirank

End point

Weisstannen, Oberdorf (1003 m)

Get there Google Maps

Weisstannen, Oberdorf

Time: Schönhalden summit station - Guscha - Steingässler - Hochfinsler: 3–4 h

Hochfinsler - Apöstel - Chläuifurggla - Langrain - Madchopf - Madfurggl - Weisstannen Dorf: 3–4 h

Difficulty / Material: Between Steingässler and Chläuifurggla there are exposed passages, but the terrain is always well tiered. While there is always a faint path, markings are missing on several stretches. Therefore, with bad visibility it is not easy to find the best itinerary.

Waypoints

Guscha (2140 m)

Steingässler (2249 m)

Hochgamatsch (2367 m)

Apöstel (2345 m)

Chläuifurggla (2199 m)

Langrain (2218.3 m)

Madchopf (2235 m)

Zigerchnörri (2358 m)

Neighbor summit

Guli (2354 m)

Guli is reached within ½ h from Chläuifurggla (T3, pathless). It is not easy to choose a summit out of the many which are accessible from Chläuifurggla. On the Guli summit the ridge branches out in different directions opening up an array of new hiking targets.