Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
D5
Rosswald » Simplonpass
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10h10 |
24.1 km
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1049 m
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926 m
From Rosswald, circumvent the Gantertal valley basin on a level course passing the chapel of Stafel and the Bortel Hut. From Rothwald, then climb steeply up to the Mäderlicke gap, next crossing the mountainside below the Chaltwassergletscher glacier to reach the Simplon pass, the stage destination.
Leave Rosswald and head to the east on a wide trail. Much further down, the Simplonstrasse road with its imposing bridge forming a large arch over the Ganterbach stream winds its way upwards. Staying at the same altitude, the farmland path leads past the Schmidmatten meadows to the meadow hamlet of Stafel with its St. Anna chapel. The trail continues into the valley basin of the Schiessbach stream. After crossing the stream, the Gibjeriweg trail leads through sparse woodland onto the slopes of the Sürrigg and into the Steinutal valley. Parts of this trail are rather exposed. A little further above the Gibjeriweg, a safely built trail leads into the Steinutal. Walk over a rocky side ridge of the Bortelhorn to reach the Bortel huts. Staying at the same level, continue over the Bortel Alp, cross the Ganterbach stream, the outlet of the Bortelseewji reservoir, and cross the boulder-strewn slopes of the rocky Furggubäum valley basin. At the Strickbode stables, the trail leads close to the outskirts of the forest to Wintrigmatte. From here, it is possible to climb directly up to the Mäderlicke gap. There is, however, a very worthwhile detour to the chapels of Wase and Rothwald. From Rothwald, the mountain trail leads through the Jochtwald wood. Continue over alpine pastureland up into the Bodmertälli valley, from where the trail winds upward over boulder-strewn slopes to the Mäderlicke. There is an impressive view from the crossing: in the foreground, the Chaltwasser glacier stretches up to Mount Leone, while in the east the Chaltwasser pass can be spotted with the mountain lake in front. Take the descent through the Chaltwassertälli valley, crossing the rocks scoured smooth by the glacier and the rivulets of melted glacier. Pass the last boulder fields of Mount Leone to walk over alpine pastureland directly to Simplon Kulm. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Natural and cultural heritage
Simplon pass The Simplon was the shortest connection between the north of France, Paris and the upper Italian trade centres, particularly Milan. The pass was therefore of great strategic significance for trade and crusades, and was thus made use of by Jodok von Stockalper and Napoleon. Numerous constructions commissioned by both men can still be seen today. The largest building by Stockalper is in Birg and even bears his name, the Stockalper Palace. Stockalper had the trail over the pass extended into an easily accessible mule track. He built storehouses, goods trans-shipment centres and refuges for tradesmen and travellers. The trail built under Stockalper has since been reconstructed and can be used as a hiking trail. Almost 100 years after Stockalper, the pass was then influenced by Napoleon Bonaparte. He organised the construction of a large army road in order to cross the pass with soldiers, canons and a great amount of war material. After the fall of the Emperor Napoleon, the French left the Wallis region. Only one thing remains (or almost) of Napoleon’s road: the alignment of the pass road over the Simplon. The Simplon road remained, thus giving the pass a hopeful future. In the 19th century, the Simplon faced competition from other newly extended pass roads, above all the Gotthard pass. But even greater competition came from the railway, through the Gotthard tunnel and especially the Simplon tunnel: on 1 July 1906, the first train was driven through the Simplon, and traffic over the pass virtually came to a standstill. But with the arrival of the automobile era, this changed yet again and today the Simplon pass is a popular crossing for large and small cars, thanks to the newly extended road.
(Schweizer Wanderwege)
Useful topographic maps
274T Visp ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
Aletsch - Goms - Brig - Simplon ~ Hallwag Kümmerly und Frey AG / ISBN 3-259-00821-7 (1: 60'000)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
FX - 2023-09-20
Direction SimplonPass par le Maderlücke (montée en zigzag dans une gravière). En montant à droite, présence d'un plateau avec cabane (non explorée) où le bivouac semble possible.
Au Maderlücke, MonteLeone Hütte (2848m, non explorée). Descente vers Simplon sans difficulté (quelques ponts sur les eaux du glacier). Au Simplon, un resto déplorable (refus de charger la powerbank), viser le magasin de souvenirs (très sympa, pain excellent, charcuterie, glaces, boissons...) et un hospice (hébergement, repas...). Conseil de continuer vers NiederAlp (super emplacement de bivouac, près de la rivière)
Traces GPX : D5 https://www.openrunner.com/route-details/17065634
et D5 variante (sans descendre à Rothwald) https://www.openrunner.com/route-details/17148887
FX - 2023-09-20
Itinéraire réalisé de Riale (D1) à MontCenis (D34) du 19/08 au 12/09/23.
Lors du D4, nous ne sommes pas descendus jusqu'à Rosswald, pour rester sur les crêtes et continuer à niveau jusqu'à Bortehütte. Après Stafel, après le pont passé, 2 options :
- en haut : un peu plus long, mais plus facile
- en bas : on longue un bisse avec des passages aménagés (pas difficile mais pas pour les vertigeux).
A Bortelhütte, réservation conseillée. Possibilité de continuer 1h jusqu’aux bâtiments visibles depuis le refuge : celui du milieu est aménagé sommairement (table, bancs, estrade pour 4 couchages).
Clemens - 2016-07-18
Es ist nicht nötig zur Mäderlicke zu laufen. Zumal im Frühsommer noch viel Schnee liegen kann. Man kann den Stockalperweg nehmen, der unterhalb von Rothwald beginnt. Dazu muss man zur Simplonpassstrasse herunterlaufen und diese überqueren und bis auf ca. 1500 m.Ü.M. über die geteerte Waldstrasse hinunterlaufen.
Zum Restaurant Wasenalp auf 1970 m.Ü.M.: Das ist nur am Freitag, Samstag und Sonntag geöffnet. In Rothwald hat es wiederum nur ein Restaurant ca. 300 m weiter die Simplonpasstrasse nach unten laufen: Hotel Ganterwald.
Tipp: Man schafft es problemlos von der Bortelhütte nach Simplon-Dorf. Wer also nicht im Hospitz und in einen der Passhotels schlafen möchte, dem empfehle ich diesen Weg.
Automatic translation
[Google]
It is not necessary to walk to the Mäderlicke. Especially in early summer, there is still a lot of snow. You can take the Stockalperweg, which starts below Rothwald. To do this, you have to run down to the Simplonpass road and cross it and continue until you reach about 1500 m.Ü.M. Run down the tarred forest road. To the restaurant Wasenalp at 1970 m.Ü.M .: This is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. In Rothwald there is only one restaurant about 300 m further down the Simplonpasstrasse: Hotel Ganterwald. Tip: You can easily make it from the Bortel hut to Simplon village. So if you do not want to sleep in the hospice and in one of the pass hotels, I recommend this way.
robert - 2013-10-31
Le refuge Bortel a un refuge d'hiver toujours ouvert
A 20 minutes du col de Mäderlicke, en descendant vers le Simplon, il y a la Cabane Monte Leone (Club Alpin Suisse). Il faut faire un petit crochet, mais ce refuge vaut le détour. Superbe et Sympa. Gardé de début juillet à mi-septembre. Réservation: cas-monteleone@bluewin.ch
Automatic translation
[Google]
20 minutes Mäderlicke neck, down to the Simplon, there is the Monte Leone hut (Swiss Alpine Club). Must make a detour, but it is worth seeing refuge. Beautiful and nice. Kept from early July to mid-September. Reservation: cas-monteleone@bluewin.ch
Je suis tout à fait d'accord avec Helga (que j'ai rencontrée à Alpe Devero... Bonjour Helga !). Au début du mois de juillet, le refuge n'est pas gardé, mais il y a une chambre d'hiver confortable.
Automatic translation
[Google]
I totally agree with Helga (whom I met in Alpe Devero ... Hello Helga!). In early July, the refuge is not kept, but there is room for cozy winter.
Ich empfehle eine Uebernachtung auf den Bortelhuetten. Man kann direkt von der Fleschalp (vorherige Etappe) innerhalb zwei bequemer Stunden zu der netten Huette gehen. Sie liegt traumhaft und bietet eine tolle Sicht aufs Rhonetal:
www.bortelhuette.ch - 40 Schlafplaetze
Automatic translation
[Google]
I highly recommend an overnight stay on the Bortelhuetten. You can walk right out of the Fleschalp (previous stage) within two hours more convenient to go to the nice cabin. She is gorgeous and has a great view on the Rhone Valley:
www.bortelhuette.ch - 40 Beds
CHAZALET - 2009-08-16
Depuis Wasenalp (2100m), pourquoi descendre à Rothwald (1745 m), quand le sentier en balcon et en légère montée amène directement à l'aplomb du col Maderlicke , en dessous de Bodme, vers le croisement de sentiers à 2307 m ?
Automatic translation
[Google]
Since Wasenalp (2100m), why stop at Rothwald (1745 m), when the balcony path slightly uphill and leads directly to plumb Maderlicke neck, below Bodme towards crossing paths to 2307 m?
|
10h10 |
24.1 km
|
1049 m
|
926 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.