Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Glattalp - Glärnischhütte - Inner Fürberg - Klöntal

Hard to believe, but this was our first overnight in the mountains. We chose a beautiful traverse from Glattalp to the picturesque Glärnisch massif. The path led over a bizarre Karst-like landscape and down into a beautiful valley that was densely inhabited by sheep. The overnight at the Glärnishhütte was fantastic with hearty food and comfy duvets... the following morning we bravely rose at 7 am (several hours after all the rest of the overnighters at the hut) and headed up for an easy scramble to Fürberg. Easy but exciting, with a few places where use of hands was required. The descent to Klöntal was grueling, but we were rewarded with a few hours of lounging about a terrace eating and drinking well-deserved beers...

Patchy fog at Glattalp


We descended into the valley and up to the saddle between the two peaks in the distance
bright grey limestone suddenly gave way to its orange cousin


first view of Glärnischhütte - and the fun switchbacks that lead to it... 
view of the valley we descended into from the saddle in the upper left
heading up to Fürberg

On top of Fürberg (2627m) - on the other side of the crazy dropoff view to Klöntalersee

Looking toward the Glärnischfirn glacier and Vrenelisgärtli, the highest peak on the massif

Looking south - our path on the right, in the distance the more impressive peaks of Glarnerland