Logbook 3: Chamanna da Grialetsch CAS
Distance: 15.7km | Elevation Gain/Loss: 544m | Total Time: 3:25
The Chamanna da Grialetsch sits at 2542m ASL on top of the mountain pass connecting the Dürrboden valley to the west and the Val Susasca to the east.
I used the Dürrboden valley approach, which is easily accessible by car from Davos.
As you drive through the valley, you are transported to the Scottish Highlands with a wide valley floor, boden, populated by countless sheep, cattle, horses, and even yaks. Small family farms dot the landscape each with their own unique home that has likely been there for hundreds of years. It is certainly one of the more unique valley landscapes I’ve visited in Switzerland so far.
The Furggabach stream carves its way down the valley and eventually feeds into Davos Lake
The hike is quite relaxed and gains 530m over 4.3km on very well maintained trail.
The only real challenge, especially in the summer months, is the large population of grazing cows that are quite stubborn and care little about your desire to use the trail. While most of them are domesticated to the point of no real harm, it is always a bit nerve wracking to be around a mother cow and her calf - especially when you have two dogs with you as I usually do on these hikes.
The friendly (hopefully) trail traffic
As you reach the saddle between Raduner Rothorn and Chilbirtzenspitz, you are greeted by the alpine Furgga Lake. Cottongrass bordered much of the lake and was being whipped away by the wind being funneled through the pass.
The hut sits on the up on a small bluff next to an unnamed pond and overlooks the massive glacial bowl formed by Piz Grialetsch, Piz Vadret, and Piz Sarsura, all of which have summits above 3,100m.
As is the case in much of the world, the Grialetsch glacier is quickly dying as warmer weather and shrinking snowpacks erode it each year. From the hut, only a small sliver of the glacier is still visible. Decades ago, it must have engulfed most of the valley… what a sight that would have been to witness.
Only after getting back to my car did I realize that I didn’t actually take a photo of the hut itself… I guess the mountain views took all of my attention away. So, instead, I will leave you with the Swiss flag photo I took instead:
