BETTMERHORN via MARJELA
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We took the early cable car to Kühboden again and then walked to Märjela via the tunnel (about 1 ¾ hours). For a detailed description of this part of the route click here.
From the Gletscherstube hut we headed down towards
the glacier. A signpost suggested that it was only 10 minutes to the glacier but
the “path” was extremely rough so we decided not to go right down to it. At
this height only a few metres above the glacier surface it is obvious that the
ice is not flat but there are tremendous variations in height with enormous
crevasses and wave-like formations. The ice also curves down towards the edge,
all a result of the different speeds and depths of the ice.
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From the track down to the edge of the Aletschgletscher.
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Path
on the approach to Rota Chumna. The Bettmerhorn towers above.
At Rote Chumna an older and lower path goes off to the Aletschwald. The “new” path then starts to climb over an enormous boulder field. The boulders have been “arranged” to form a “path” but the way-markings were very poor. A Swiss woman told us she was going to complain to the Tourist Office as she thought route finding could be very difficult in some conditions.
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Looking back down the path towards Märjela from the boulder field which the path crosses.
Eventually a proper path returned and near the summit an avalanche shelter has been built over the path. The way then levels out and winds round to the Bettmerhorn cable car station. The time from the Gletscherstube was about 1¾ hours. The cable car station and restaurant is a bit of an eyesore but the view from the Panoramic Restaurant is magnificent and there is an excellent exhibition about the Aletschgletscher.
Click here for Alpine option to Bettmerhorn summit
We took the cable car down to Bettmeralp and then headed off along the “Herrenweg” path to Kühboden (taking about 1 ¼ hours). The path climbs from 1957m to 2212m. Initially it is rather an unattractive route due to the numerous ski-lifts but later there are magnificent views into the valley towards Fiesch and Lax. Refreshments are available about half-way at the Fürri Hütte.
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Approaching the Fürri Hütte
We
decided to climb the Bettmerhorn, which towers above the cable car station. This
is classified as an Alpine route with blue and white markings. It does not
appear on the Wanderweg maps but is mentioned in the cable car leaflets as a
“Wandersteg” with a picture of people walking down a staircase. Once again
we noticed that the cable car companies tend to gloss over the level of
difficulty of some of these walks! Large notices in four languages caution
walkers, however, - don’t go up if you suffer from vertigo, watch for weather
changes, don’t go up if icy etc.
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The path is protected in places by fixed cables and "Wandersteg".
Click here to go to the Bettmeralp website with a description of this Alpine option in English
The climb starts at 2647m and clambers up a series of very steep paths, up ladders, over bridges and steps set into the rock face, but all protected by steel cables. In places it is very exposed but in good conditions and with care is safe enough.
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The "Wandersteg" ladders on the Bettmerhorn (sorry the photo is in black and white but the colour image was damaged in processing).
On reaching the cross (illuminated at night and facing Brig) the first summit is reached at 2858m. We continued over boulders a little further but the actual summit is ½ km further on and as the going was very rough and the height gained was minimal we decided to descend. The views from the top were obviously excellent but not as clear as on the day we climbed the Eggishorn. We descended carefully and with very little difficulty. The time taken for the ascent and descent was about an hour.