 |
Ken Baldry's Alpine PagesFrom Leukerbad to Fafleralp |
Leukerbad
...has a magnificent position at the head of the Dala Valley & can also be approached by bus or on foot from Leuk in the Rhone Valley, where there is a railway station that fast trains ignore, so change at Sierre for the slow train. Leukerbad is a spa town & visiting the hot springs is a must, especially if you came via the Höhenweg from Montana. Off-season, the hotels are replete with the elderly taking the 'cure' but you won't have trouble finding a room. I have stayed five times in the Hotel Derby, more of less opposite the bus station & convenient for the Gemmi Path, as you carry on past the hotel & look out for the sign to the left nearer the top of the village. To go up the Gemmi from here, follow this link.
Leukerbad & Torrenthorn |
Leukerbad from the NE |
Leukerbad from the Leuk path |
The Resti Pass
This is the route into the Lötschental, another hidden valley but much larger than the Gasterntal. While there are several paths up to the Hotel Torrenthorn, there is also a cable car, which I took. The only path which heads to the East goes to the Resti Pass, which comes into view (photo below) after about 3km. When you reach it, the Lötschental explodes into view. The path descends to the Restialp, then zig-zags drop to Ferden. Walk on to Kippel & stay the night. (We stayed in the Hotel Lötschberg, basic in 1974 but refurbished since).
The Resti Pass |
The Lötschental view from the Resti Pass |
Kippel |
To Fafleralp
This is at the end of the road, before the Lang Gletscher path begins. Either, one can walk along the road & paths which bypass it or walk up the big zig-zags from Kippel to the Hockenalp & take the high level footpath. It is best to do both, one out one back, as the chapel at Kühmad, 1km before Fafleralp, is not to be missed.
The Bietschorn 3934m from the hohenweg |
Blatten & Lonza river |
The Resti Pass (left notch) from Fafleralp |
Contact: Ken Baldry, 17 Gerrard Road, Islington, London N1 8AY +44(0)20 7359 6294 or e-mail him
URL: http://www.art-science.com/Ken/Alpine/KtoFtour/KtoF4.html
©2000-2012 Ken Baldry. All rights reserved. Last revised 29/5/2012