Logbook 7: Voralphutte
Distance: 18.8km | Elevation Gain/Loss: 928m | Total Time: 6:57
Originally built in 1891, the Voralp Hut belongs to my personal SAC Uto Chapter here in Zurich. It is part of the 5 hut circuit connecting the surrounding huts
The rebuild of the hut in 1959 was done by Jakob Eschenmoser, who is one of the most important figures in SAC history, as he was involved in most of the 20th-century new builds or renovations of SAC hut around the country.
The hike begins in the Goschenen Valley car park at 1,216m asl. The word “goschenen” traces its meaning from the Romansh word “caschinga” which means “alpine huts” so the valley’s name is the home of alpine huts, a fun coincidence.
You follow the road up towards the Goschenen resevoir but turn to the north into the Voralp valley as the switchbacks begin. The Hohenberg and Gandscijen rock walls surround you as you begin gaining elevation.
The Voralp river accompanies you the entire hike which provides a constant source of fresh water to keep hydrated. I was surprised the river wasn’t running harder given the 20C+ temperatures.
Around the Mittwald point at 1,661asl, you can look up to the northeast and see the Salbitbrücke bridge, a 100m long suspension bridge that hangs 150m over a gorge. It was currently out of service due to rockfall damage.
Around 1,800m, just above the Horenfelli farmhouse area, the snow fields began. Travel was fairly easy with the snow being mostly stable and supportive of our weight without any snowshoes. Things got a big harder on slope sections but we only punched through a few times on thinner sections.
The views opened up as we came around the Flachensteinen (Flat stones) run-off area. The massive Sustenhorn (3,502m) imposed over the valley. Even this high up in the alpine area, it still had over 1,000m of prominence above the valley floor.
We needed to cross the river to get to the hut but realized that all of the bridges had not yet been installed this early in the season. The river was also too deep or fast running in every area we checked and none of us were in the mood to get soaking wet or risk falling in the river.
We moved higher up and found a snow bridge that looked and felt strong enough for us to cross safely. We crossed just a few hundred meters northwest of the Voralp Hut. As an award, we go a full view of the Wallenburfirn glacier at the end of the valley.
After a brief climb up the backside of the bluff the hut sits on, we made it to our home for the night.
The hut’s vantage point up on the rocky promontory makes it feel like you are in a castle with views looking all the way down the valley.
We unpacked, started the wood stove, and settled in for a lovely night in the mountains.
