Mettmen-Gämspfad
Overview
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Distance 2 km
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Duration 55 min
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Ascent 80 m
Intro
Experience winter on snowshoes in Europe's oldest wildlife conservation area: the Freiberg Kärpf. This easy tour across meadows and through forests takes you to the Mettmenalp pasture area (1,600 m.a.s.l.) with Lake Garichti.
Description
The area round Mount Kärpf in the Glarnerland has been a protected wildlife reserve since 1548. It is the oldest in the whole of Europe and, at 106 square kilometers, is also one of the largest in Switzerland. Back then, Chief Magistrate Joachim Bäldi (1527-1571) persuaded his fellow-countrymen that it would be sensible to protect the wild animals in this area so as to ensure reserves of meat for adverse times. Nowadays, the Freiberg Kärpf is a wildlife reserve that also integrates nature conservation areas and forest reserves: a relaxing destination for nature-loving winter sports enthusiasts.
Considerate snowshoe trekkers who heed the rules as they follow the "Chamois Path" (Gämspfad) can spot chamois, ibex and sometimes even mountain hares along the way. The route begins at the mountain station of the Kies-Mettmen cable car. It starts out along cleared paths and takes you past the Mettmen Mountain Hotel. At Garichti reservoir (which the locals call Lake Mettmen), you then encounter natural deep snow conditions. The lake is open for ice fishing from mid-January until the end of February each year. The snowshoe trail leads over the dam wall at first, heading in a south-easterly direction.
Then at the end of the wall, it veers sharply north-eastwards. The trail climbs through a fir and pine forest to the central stretch of the Mettmenalp pastures. You cross the open plain, with its light covering of snow towards the "Cheese Store Hut" (Käselagerhütte). From here, the route climbs back to the starting point – there are only a few bends, but they are steep! When you reach your destination, the cable car will take you back into the valley (note the winter operating times).
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 |
Schwanden, Mettmen
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Schwanden, Mettmen
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| Ascent |
80 m
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| Descent |
80 m
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| Distance |
2 km
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| Duration |
55 min
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| Physical requirements |
Easy
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| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
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Elm Ferienregion
Obmoos
8767
Elm
Quick Facts
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