Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R95
Fieschertal » Riederalp
|
7h30 |
20.5 km
|
1432 m
|
621 m
Leave Fieschertal heading northward and climb uphill via the Burg hut to the Märjelesee lake, from where the Aletsch glacier comes into sight for the first time. A unique nature reserve is located on its southern side moraine - the Aletschwald forest. The high-altitude trail leads to the Riederfurka gap and finally to the Riederalp resort, the stage destination.
Leave Fieschertal in a northward direction and follow the Wysswasser stream. In Unnerberg, the trail splits: either head uphill over the ridge to the Burg hut or take the woodland trail along the Glingulwasser stream. The first option gives you a view over the Fieschergletscher glacier. For experienced mountaineers, an alpine trail leads directly along the edge of the glacier to the mountain trail to the Märjelewang. The second option “only” offers you a view over the Alteschgletscher glacier, but it is so impressive that those who choose this route will have no reason to feel disappointed: it heads along the Glingulwasser stream to the end of the valley basin. A mountain trail leads past the rocks to the Märjelewang, where the two routes meet. Continue past the Vordersee lake to the little “Zur Gletscherstube” mountain restaurant and then to the Märjelensee lake. Here, you will get a first view over the mighty Grosse Aletschgletscher glacier. Together with the Jungfrau massif, which can be seen in the background, and the Breithorn, this region has been included on the list of UNESCO world nature heritage since 2001. After heading around the ridge of the Eggihorn and turning onto the slopes of the Bettmerhorn, you will soon reach Roti Chumma and will be able to experience the ice coating of the glacier for yourself: the rocks that have been rubbed smooth here give you a good idea of how powerful the glacier once was when at its greatest proportions. The trail leads on to Alte Stafel. Here, head gradually into the Aletschwald wood, another unique natural monument: between gnarled larches and pine the trail reaches the Riederfurka ridge. A short descent then leads to the Rieder Alp, the stage destination. (Schweizer Wanderwege).
Natural and cultural heritage
UNESCO World Heritage, Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn The Grosse Aletsch glacier is the biggest glacier in the alpine region. At the Konkordiaplatz ice plain, where ice depths of up to 900 metres have been measured, the three glaciers merge from the Jungfrau massif. From there, the glacier stream is then called the Grosse Aletsch glacier and stretches over 23 kilometres, covering a surface of around 86km2 and flowing with a speed of up to 180 metres per year in the direction of the Rhonetal valley. Over thousands of years, the glacier created a unique landscape all around it. Under the pressure of the ice, amounting to approximately 27 billion tonnes pressing down on the ground below, the glacier flows down towards the valley, thus entrenching itself ever deeper in the alpine landscape. The glacier also shifts enormous quantities of boulders and scree in front of it, leading to the formation of humps and leaving behind moraine areas. Exciting ecological processes occur with vegetative succession and forest dynamics in the areas bordering the glaciers: within a few decades, moss and the first seed-bearing plants such as yellow mountain saxifrage or the alpine toadflax take over the newly gained terrain. Later, these are joined by other herbaceous plants, until after around 25 years, the first trees and shrubs appear. On 13 December 2001, the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn area was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List on the decision of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Useful topographic maps
264T Jungfrau ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
Aletsch und Unteres Goms ~ Brig Tourismus, Brig (1: 25'000)
Aletsch Goms Brig Simplon ~ Hallwag Kümmerly und Frey AG, Urtenen BE (1: 60'000)
Useful guidebooks
Brig Simplon Aletsch Goms / Chrisitan Fux ~ Rotten Verlag AG Philipp Mengis (ISBN 3-907624-52-1)
20 Bergwanderungen Region Wallis / Luc Hagmann, Franz u. Brigitte Auf der Maur ~ Tamedia AG Werd Verlag (ISBN 3-85932-305-9)
Oberwallis / Waeber/Steinbichler ~ Bergverlag Rudolf Rother GmbH (ISBN 3-7633-4127-7)
Websites relative to natural and cultural heritage
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.
Pascal - 2024-09-07
A l'intersection du lieu-dit "Stock", le sentier qui descend en longeant le cours d’eau du Glingulwasser est fermé. Ne reste que l'option via le refuge de Burg, mais le sentier est très bien aménagé (échelles et escaliers "faciles"), et ne devrait pas poser de problème à la plupart. Itinéraire magnifique au demeurant !
Berta - 2018-07-07
Starker Nebel und Regen war der Grund für die Nötigung in der Gletscherstube, was wirklich fein war. Sehr sauber, schöne bequeme Lager und ein wunderbar gutes Essen und das auch noch sehr reichlich, da braucht keiner hungern. Insgesamt sehr zu empfehlen. Lager mit Halbpension 70 CHF
Automatic translation
[Google]
Heavy fog and rain was the reason for the coercion in the glacier room, which was really fine. Very clean, nice comfortable camp and a wonderfully good food and that also very plentiful, since no one needs to go hungry. Overall, highly recommended. Camp with half board 70 CHF
Berta - 2018-07-07
In der Burghütte einfache aber urige Nächtigungsmöglichkeit. Der Hüttenbesitzer Hubert weis viel zu erzählen. Essen gut und reichlich. Lager mit Halbpension 65 CHF pP
Automatic translation
[Google]
In the castle hut simple but rustic overnight stay. The hut owner Hubert has a lot to tell. Food good and plentiful. Camp with half board 65 CHF pp
Der Moränenweg vor der Riederfurka ist im Moment wegen Steinschlag gesperrt. Der kleine Umweg lohnt sich aber auf jeden Fall.
Automatic translation
[Google]
The Moränenweg in front of the Riederfurka is currently closed because of rockfall. The small detour is definitely worth it.
Clemens - 2015-07-08
Der Weg zur Hängebrücke biegt ca. 1 Stunde vor Riederfurka rechts ab. Und ist dann leider nicht mehr gut ausgeschildert. Lauft nicht rechts sondern links, bis der Hinweis kommt "Hängebrücke". Achtung: Der Arletschwald ist ziemlich trocken. Man kommt an einen kleinen Bach vorbei, dessen Wasser nicht unbedingt gut ist. Ansonsten gibt's neben der Hängebrücke Wasser. Empfehlung: Am Brunnen bei der Gletscherstube 2 Liter Wasser fassen.
Automatic translation
[Google]
The path to the suspension bridge flexes approximately 1 hour before Riederfurka right. And is then no longer clearly signposted. Do not run the right but the left until the note is "hanging bridge". Caution: The Arletschwald is quite dry. You pass a small stream whose water is not necessarily good. Otherwise, there's next to the suspension bridge water. Recommendation: At the fountain in the Gletscherstube 2 liters of water take.
Elisabeth - 2014-12-05
Le sentier qui suit la moraine du Fieschergletscher au départ de Burghütte est vraiment vertigineux : ce serait bien de le mentionner dans le topo de l'étape.
Automatic translation
[Google]
The trail follows the Fieschergletscher moraine from Burghütte is really breathtaking: it would be good to mention it in the topo of the stage.
SPYD - 2012-09-23
Comme pour l'étape R94, les dénvelés fournis ne sont pas corrects. En démarrant de Burghütte et nous arrêtant à Riederfurka nous avions + 900m et - 600m
Accueil trés sympa à Riederfurka (et qui évite de descendre sur Riederalp)
Automatic translation
[Google]
As for step R94, the dénvelés provided are not correct. By starting and stopping at Burghütte we Riederfurka 900m - 600m very nice to Riederfurka Home (and avoids down to Riederalp)
Daniel - 2010-10-17
When I was at the newly renovated and pleasant Märjela hut (4 dorms), there was a party of hunters, proudly showing their prey piled up near the entrance.
|
7h30 |
20.5 km
|
1432 m
|
621 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.