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WALK 1

Fieschertal (1108m) – Burg Hut (1751m) – Fieschertal

Distance	10km
Grade	2–3
Time	3½–4hrs (2–2½hrs up, 1½hrs back)
Height gain/loss	643m
Location	North of Fiesch

The privately owned Burg Hut stands on a broad slab of granite overlooking the deep gorge of the Fieschergletscher, backed by a magnificent wall of mountains. It’s an atmospheric place, whether you choose to spend a night there, or simply visit for a drink and return by an alternative route. This walk is full of charm, for it passes through a tiny alp hamlet, wanders into a beautiful little valley with silver birch, larch and pine trees, then scrambles up a gully beside a line of crags used as a local klettergarten. After spending time at the hut, the descent back to Fieschertal goes down a long rib of rock and trees that forms the west wall of the glacier gorge, with surprise views every few minutes. The walk may be only 3½–4hrs long (actual walking time), but it’s likely to take all day.

The bus from Fiesch terminates its journey at the Dorfplatz roadhead in the village of Fieschertal where the walk begins. Go half-left at a major signpost where the route is signed to Klettergarten, Stock and Burg Hut, among others. Follow a gravel track between meadows, then up a concrete ramp to reach an attractive hamlet of dark timber chalets and old barns resting on staddle stones. This hamlet is named Zer Brigge after the little hump-backed bridge seen off to the left.

Walk through the hamlet and continue on a path with enticing views of peaks to the north. The way goes through trees and brings you onto a narrow service road where you turn left. Immediately after the road crosses a stream, take an unmarked path on the right which is a shortcut to bring you to the road once more. Continue up-valley until the road recrosses the stream, at which point follow a footpath signed to the Burg Hut and Marjelen (among others).

The path climbs steadily among trees, crosses another narrow road and continues as a track. When this ends a footpath continues from it, crossing another stream and reaching a junction. The right branch goes to Unnerbärg, but we keep ahead (sign to Burg Hut). This is a very attractive region of rocks and trees, with a big line of crags ahead. Pass a small hut and follow the path to another junction at 1573m. This point is marked as Klettergarten, and is where the route to the Burg Hut departs from that which goes to the Gletscherstube Märjela.

Bear right and wander up a broad gully between crags – climbers can often be seen in action here. At the head of the gully climb a short metal ladder, turn left at the top, and follow blue waymarks the last few metres to the dark, timber-built Burg Hut (1751m: 2–2½hrs: accommodation, refreshments). The Burg Hut is privately owned but run on similar lines to a standard SAC hut. It has 32 dormitory places and is usually manned from mid-May until mid-October (Tel 027 971 40 27).

The Burg Hut, set magnificently among glacier slabs backed by the Fiescherhörner

Take a different route back to Fieschertal by returning to the head of the gully you ascended to reach the hut, and across this follow waymarks up some slabs. Curve around these and descend a metal ladder, at the foot of which you curve to the right and shortly climb a second, long metal ladder bolted against more slabs. On reaching the top of this a sign indicates a viewpoint 5mins to the right. This is a diversion worth taking – it weaves among larch and pine trees to a dome of slabs which you mount with the aid of rungs and fixed cable to gain a tremendous viewpoint at about 1800m, overlooking the lower Fieschertal and back to the Burg Hut and the Fiescherhörner.

Return to the sign at the top of the ladder and curve left. You will shortly come to a seat with a sign explaining that the Fieschergletscher is about 15km long, but between 1891 and 2010 it lost about 1000m of its length.

There follows a lovely descent among birch, pine and larch trees down a domed granite rib. On coming to a track turn right and wander easily along it to Titter (1627m), the head of a works cableway with a few buildings nearby. Here you take a path descending into pinewoods. Come to a pair of small wooden chalets, below which you go through more trees and emerge to another fine viewpoint overlooking the valley. Passing another tiny timber chalet the way goes over bare slabs, then steeply down to more trees and another junction.

Take the route towards Unnerbärg and Fieschertal, curving right over yet more slabs to another chalet, then into woodland. On coming to another junction descend left and before long you will reach yet another junction – this one unmarked – just to the left of a stream. Ignore the left-hand option and continue downhill. The path eventually brings you onto a narrow road at Unnerbärg (1300m) where you turn right.

Soon come to a junction and bear left to wander down the road which, at the next hairpin, rejoins the outward route. A footpath shortcut leads down to the road again where it crosses the stream. Eventually (about 1hr 10mins from the hut) the road cuts through rocks. A path then breaks to the right to descend to the little hamlet of Zer Brigge. When the way forks, keep ahead and arrive in Fieschertal soon after.