ViaStockalper
Overview
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Distance 12 km
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Duration 5 h 20 min
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Ascent 1600 m
Intro
A spectacular climb high above the Saltinaschlucht (gorge) and through the lonely Taverntal valley to the Simplonpass. Impressive historic trail and buildings such as Stockalper Castle in Brig and the Hospiz (hospice) at the head of the pass.
Description
Situated in the sunny Rhone valley in the Valais, Brig is a hub of national transport routes and the northern border station to Italy. The small town has a lot to offer. Relaxing in the thermal baths, amazement in the Naters Ossuary and discoveries in the World Nature Forum are just a few of the many options. The Stockalper castle is one of the most important baroque palace buildings in Switzerland. A closer look at the three-storey arcaded courtyard is definitely worthwhile.
Leaving the town through narrow alleys and past pretty stone walls and wooden houses, the ascent starts across lush meadows which are irrigated early in the year, as is the custom almost everywhere in the Valais. In the Chräjubiel forest, the trail climbs up the steep slope in wide curves, and soon you can enjoy a beautiful view of the small town on the valley floor. In this area, the dry climate marks the pine forest and the prairie grasses.
Crossing the slope, you find yourself in the Saltina gorge on a steep rock face. The path was cut into the rock high above the Saltina stream and is secured with metal railings. Some wooden bridges lead over parts of the scree ravines. Blue markings on the ground indicate the annual double marathon from Brig to Gondo which commemorates the storm disaster of Gondo in the year 2000.
A lovely and partly well-fortified path leads through the forest deeper and deeper into the gorge. Before reaching Chalchofen, the national road, the Napoleon road and the mule track all run along very close to each other. Here, the Schallbett stop offers an ideal entry point for people who are not fond of heights or who want to shorten the stage.
Next there’s a short descent to the hamlet of Grund through the stony, dry forest on the southern slope. On the valley floor, where four valleys meet and the Ganterbach, the Taferna and the Nessulbach streams flow into the Saltina, a 17th century residential house watches over the protected floodplain.
The trail continues southwards through the middle valley. Between steep, forested slopes, the route gently but steadily climbs uphill close to the Taferna. The pretty mountain stream makes its way between huge boulders and sweeps away whole logs of wood.
After passing numerous wooden walkways and rock faces, the forest slowly clears, and the former inn "zer Taferna", made of stone, comes into view. According to legend, in the days of Stockalper, the innkeeper used to dilute the wine with water and is still atoning for the fraud in the Chaltwasser glacier which feeds the Taferna.
Soon after, the valley opens up and the Taferna branches out. The path now leads to the western slope and begins to ascend in serpentines along the Hobschugrabe. On the opposite slope, the covered road winds along the hillside. Between the Simplon-Blick restaurant and the Simplon eagle high above, a landmark of the region, the trail rejoins the pass road and reaches the stage destination on the Simplon pass.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Brig
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Simplonpass
|
| Elevation level - Direction |
Alps, One way
|
| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
1000 m
|
| Ascent |
1600 m
|
| Descent |
260 m
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| Distance |
12 km
|
| Duration |
5 h 20 min
|
| Duration back |
4 h
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Season |
June - October
|
| Theme |
With panoramic view, Over a pass
|
Quick Facts
Route number
