REALP TO ANDERMATT

This walk is one for a half day, or when the weather is too bad to go higher. It is also possible to walk between Realp and Andermatt by a path slightly higher up the southern valley side, thus making a full day out and back walk possible.

Once again the weather was poor with low cloud, rain and snow on the mountains down to about 1800m.We took the train to Realp and walked back down the valley to Andermatt. The signpost at Realp stated 3 ½ hours to Anderrmatt but at Hospental the total was only 2 ½ hours. The later figure seems correct.

Avalanche protection for this tiny chapel

It was a very easy path or dirt track almost the whole way. There was interesting variation on the valley sides, with the north side being morraine deposits with streams cutting into it whilst the southern side was largely covered with scrub and bushes.

Leaving Realp

Looking up valley near Hospental

Hospental was an interesting village at the foot of the Gotthard pass road. The approach to Andermatt was across meadows and by the firing ranges of the army base but the views of the entrance to the Schöllenen gorge and the approach to the Oberwald Pass are a stunning backdrop.

Andermatt with the Oberalp pass in the background

The cliffs of  the Schöllenen gorge