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WALK 7

Riederfurka (2065m) – Aletschwald – Hängebrücke (1599m) – Belalp (2094m)

Distance	7km
Grade	2–3
Time	4½–5hrs
Height gain	495m
Height loss	466m
Location	West of Riederfurka

Not only does this route descend through the lovely Aletschwald, it crosses the dramatic suspension bridge (Hängebrücke) which spans the Massa gorge below the Grosser Aletschgletscher, and climbs to Belalp via two grassy alps. It’s a very fine outing, but it’s a demanding one, and if you have trouble with vertigo, crossing the bridge could be a nightmare! But once again there are some glorious views to savour.

A sign outside Berghotel Riederfurka directs the way into the Aletschwald heading north. Wherever there are woodland junctions, signs are clear, and when you come to one where both directions indicate Hängebrücke, ignore the left branch and keep ahead. This takes an undulating course through the larchwoods and eventually reaches the Silbersand junction at 1920m, from where you gain a partial view ahead of the Aletschgletscher.

Turn left, and soon you’ll be making a steep descent of what is an old lateral moraine. Picking your way between trees and rocks, very fine views are gained now and again up to the glacier and to mountains across the valley. When you come to another junction where the Hängebrücke is signed as 15mins away, go up the slabs ahead to find the little Grünsee pool – a popular picnic site.

Bear right and follow the continuing path down to the suspension bridge, which is at an altitude of 1599m (about 1hr 45mins to here). The bridge is sturdily made, and despite being 124m from one end to the other, it barely moves as you cross 80m above the thundering glacial torrent.

On the walk from Riederfurka to Belalp the way crosses this 124m long suspension bridge

On the western side of the bridge, the path twists uphill between rocks and trees, then up gently angled slabs before you cross a small wooden footbridge over a stream and reach another signed junction. Turn left and walk up more slabs and through pretty wooded areas on the way to the alp pastures of Aletschji (1756m) with their small timber chalets, barns and tiny chapel. The way now climbs above the chalets, very steeply for a while, to gain another alp (Z’Nil) at 1840m. This has a few more huts and lovely views. With the Belalp chapel seen on the ridge ahead, the way rises to yet another fine viewpoint.

With a few zigzags the path rises to a steep ‘gully’ flanked by rocky walls. In this gully a path has been created with tight zigzags supported by stone-built walls. Above these it continues to rise along the left flank of the mountainside, and emerges at a walled vantage point near the chapel, with Hotel Belalp ahead. A wonderful panoramic view is won here, which not only includes the Aletschgletscher and the cotton-like Hangebrücke in the gorge far below, but the hotel at Riederfurka opposite, and across the Rhône valley to the Lepontine and Pennine Alps.

Hotel Belalp (2130m, accommodation, refreshments) looks across the valley from a prominent position high above the glacier gorge (Tel 027 924 24 22, www.hotel-belalp.ch). The original hotel was built as a 10-roomed wooden chalet in 1858. Provisions were brought up by mule from Brig (more than 1500m below), while women guests were carried up on a chaise by four men. An early Visitor’s Book contains the names of many Alpine pioneers, among them AW Moore who, in 1864, claimed to have walked there in a day from Zermatt. ‘Not too long,’ he wrote, ‘starting early.’

For dormitory accommodation and the cableway down to Blatten, follow the dirt road which passes along the right-hand side of Hotel Belalp and eases round the hillside, passing numerous chalets, to reach Belalp cablecar station – about 30mins from Hotel Belalp. A few paces beyond the Belalp cablecar station stands the Hotel & Pizzeria Aletschhorn which has good facilities and comfortable dormitory accommodation (Tel 027 923 29 80, www.aletschhorn.ch).