ALETSCHWALD  

We took the cable car from Betten station to Bettmeralp and then walked along the level lane linking Bettmeralp with Riederalp. It’s not an especially exciting walk, as there are too many buildings, but there are fine views of the mountains in the south of Valais, including the Matterhorn and Weisshorn. This section of the walk takes about 1 hour. Leaving Riederalp (1925m) the path zigzags up to 2065m at Riederfurka, in about ½ hour. 

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Riederalp seen from the climb to Riederfurka

There is a hotel located here and there is a sudden and impressive view over the ridge to the Sparrhorn and the Gross Fusshorn (both over 3000m). Off to the left is Villa Cassel – an early 20^th century building and now the Naturschutzzentrum Altesch. The whole of the North side of the Aletsch ridge is covered by the Aletschwald Reserve: no camping or forestry is allowed to permit the return to the natural state of this area. You must stay on the paths at all times.  

The Gross Fusshorn and Aletschwald from just below Riederfurka

At Riederfurka the path splits in several directions. We took one signposted to Silbersand, Kalkofen and Katzlöcher (also shown as Chatzleucher and Chatxuleucher on maps). The path twists and turns as it descends through the woods, although there are always good views through clearings in the forest.

 Eventually the Aletschgletscher appears as the path slowly drops to Silbersand at 1928m. The woods thin out and the path comes out onto the mountainside. At Kalkofen the remains of an oven for burning the limestone have been rebuilt. At a junction about 2 hours from Riederalp the path continues to drop down to the glacier at Katzlöcher, but we turned right up the steep path past Alte Stafel. 

The Aletschgletscher from Silbersand

There are various paths, all heading to different places on the ridge, mainly without any signposts. We could see a map and orientation board high on the ridge and aimed for this. It proved to be at Mossfluh (2333m) and about 2¾ hours from Riederalp. There is also a gondola lift from here down towards Riederalp. Leaving Mossfluh we headed South East to drop down to the small lake at Blausee and then followed the signs for Bettmeralp past the lake at Bettmersee. Towering above the lake is the Bettmerhorn. A gentle walk through Bettmeralp (3¾ hours from Riederalp) took us down to the cable car station for Betten.