Walks in order of altitude reached
The altitude reached is typically that of a summit or a hut. Where the intended destination wasn't reached (walk in brackets), the figure is that of the highest point of the walk. The altitude in feet is that in whole metres multiplied by 3.28084, so is not accurate to the nearest foot.
Walks in order of ascent involved
While this walker almost never uses mechanical aids (if you don't count the car!), a walk can be greatly shortened if the roadhead is high. Some walks begin at altitudes barely above the plains, but there are plenty which start from pass roads that may be over 2,000 metres above sea level. Thus the correlation between the altitude reached and the ascent is quite weak.
Walks in order of length
Unlike the preceding categories, this one is partly subjective. The length correlates strongly with the ascent involved, so most walks are categorised as: short (S), less than 1 Km ascent, medium (M) up to 1500 metres, long (L) up to 2 Km and the rest very long (VL). However, some walks involve very long approaches or stretches of level ground. For example, the Lämmeren Hut from Kandersteg has an ascent of only about 1300 metres, but it includes the entire Gemmi Pass track, making it more than thirty kilometres there and back, so it is upgraded from "medium" to "long"
Walks in order of dif ficulty
This category has a strong subjective aspect. One person may find narrow tracks above vertiginous drops daunting, while another may be more worried about crossing fields of car-sized boulders. The difficulty is given according to the "SAC-Wanderskala", described already here. Within the categories, I have tried to order the individual walks according to difficulty, but this is almost completely subjective, and should be regarded as just giving a rough guide for comparison purposes.
Category T5 walks
Walks in this category require good alpine experience. They typically involve crossing very exposed slopes or light climbing, and there may be little or no evidence of a path. In the later part of the walking season when the snow is well receded, none of these walks requires ropes or picks, but they do require proper mountain boots. They should only be undertaken in settled fine weather; retreat from most of these peaks would be very dangerous in a storm. Not for beginners!
| Walk |
Difficulty |
Ascent (Metres) |
|---|---|---|
| Büttlassen | T5 | 1798 |
| Wildhorn | T5 | 995 |
| Silberhorn Hut | T5 | 1753 |
| Gsür | T5 | 1360 |
| Grand Muveran | T5 | 1143 |
| Pigne de la Lé | T5 | 1052 |
| Mont Buet (F) | T5 | 1141 |
| Piz Cotschen | T5 | 1436 |
| Ärmighorn | T5- | 1812 |
| Vanil Noir | T5- | 1119 |
| Garde de Bordon | T5- | 1060 |
Category T4 walks
Walks in this category require alpine experience. If paths are present at all, they will have white-blue-white markings. The ground to be crossed may be quite exposed, and use of the hands will be necessary in some places. In late summer, few of the paths here involve much crossing of snow or ice, but stable trekking shoes are advisable. These walks should only be undertaken in settled fine weather; retreat from most of these peaks would be difficult or dangerous in a storm. Not to be taken as a first walk in the Alps!
| Walk |
Difficulty |
Ascent (Metres) |
|---|---|---|
| Guggi Hut | T4+ | 1848 |
| Almagellerhorn | T4+ | 1645 |
| Fromberghorn | T4+ | 1634 |
| Simmenfluh | T4+ | 771 |
| Hockenhorn | T4 | 2099 |
| Madom Gröss | T4 | 1855 |
| Rottal Hut | T4 | 1845 |
| Mettelhorn | T4 | 1801 |
| Äusserer Fisistock | T4 | 1760 |
| Hutstock | T4 | 1691 |
| Piz Lischana | T4 | 1685 |
| Trient Hut | T4 | 1672 |
| Arpelistock | T4 | 1656 |
| Jegihorn | T4 | 1648 |
| Spitzstein | T4 | 1643 |
| Mont Rogneux | T4 | 1619 |
| Tschipparellenhorn | T4 | 1618 |
| Mittaghorn (Saas Fee) | T4 | 1584 |
| Schreckhorn Hut | T4 | 1544 |
| Piz Ot | T4 | 1540 |
| Mont de l'Etoile | T4 | 1536 |
| Gross Schinhorn | T4 | 1420 |
| Wasenhorn | T4 | 1241 |
| Niesehorn | T4 | 1192 |
| Morgenberghorn | T4 | 1169 |
| Schafberg | T4 | 1169 |
| Dent de Broc | T4 | 1122 |
| Dent de Lys | T4 | 1114 |
| Jazzihorn | T4 | 1023 |
| Grand Chavalard | T4 | 1014 |
| Dreizehntenhorn | T4 | 1006 |
| Nollenhorn | T4 | 981 |
| Piz Lunghin | T4 | 980 |
| Tour de Mayen | T4 | 928 |
| Sieben Hengste | T4 | 913 |
| (Dent de Brenleire) | T4 | 685 |
| Dents du Midi Haute Cime | T4- | 2202 |
| Wildstrubel | T4- | 2138 |
| Oldenhorn | T4- | 1780 |
| Reeti | T4- | 1723 |
| Äusseres Barrhorn | T4- | 1709 |
| Niesen (August 14) | T4- | 1593 |
| Dreispitz | T4- | 1580 |
| Sasseneire | T4- | 1514 |
| Albristhorn | T4- | 1279 |
| Widdersgrind | T4- | 1268 |
| Hengst | T4- | 606 |
Category T3 walks
Walks in this category require only basic alpine experience, but do need sure-footedness and reasonable trekking shoes. Path traces are present most of the time, and will have white-red-white markings. The ground to be crossed may be a little exposed, and the hands may be necessary for balance in some places. These walks should only be undertaken in fine weather; there may be a risk of slipping or getting lost in mist or rain.
| Walk |
Difficulty |
Ascent (Metres) |
|---|---|---|
| Muttler | T3+ | 1416 |
| Col de Cou | T3+ | 1100 |
| Tschuggen | T3 | 1734 |
| Schwarzhorn (Grindelwald) | T3 | 1700 |
| Schwarzhorn (Jolital) | T3 | 1582 |
| Stockhorn (August 09) | T3 | 1540 |
| Giferspitz | T3 | 1492 |
| Cornettes de Bise | T3 | 1405 |
| Piz Minschun | T3 | 1393 |
| La Pare | T3 | 1385 |
| Fründen Hut | T3 | 1362 |
| Lämmeren Hut | T3 | 1313 |
| Wildstrubel Hut | T3 | 1301 |
| Monte Gridone | T3 | 1243 |
| Schwalmeren | T3 | 1242 |
| Col de Tsarmine | T3 | 1236 |
| Brisen | T3 | 1219 |
| Seehorn | T3 | 1118 |
| Gleckstein Hut | T3 | 1089 |
| Schibengütsch | T3 | 1061 |
| Schopfenspitz | T3 | 1044 |
| Gross Mythen | T3 | 1013 |
| Sigriswiler Rothorn | T3 | 974 |
| Piz Blaisun | T3 | 944 |
| Trogenhorn | T3 | 932 |
| Stockhorn fm. Gurnigel | T3 | 880 |
| Windegg Hut | T3 | 867 |
| Le Cheval Blanc | T3 | 865 |
| Schwarzhorn (Flüela) | T3 | 815 |
| Ochsen | T3 | 800 |
| Gantrisch (July 09) | T3 | 665 |
| Gantrisch (August 10) | T3 | 665 |
| Gantrisch (August 11) | T3 | 665 |
| Piz Umbrail | T3 | 530 |
| Wittenberghorn | T2 | 840 |
Category T2 walks
Walks in this category require little or no alpine experience, but do need sure-footedness, and basic trekking shoes are recommended. Paths are mostly well marked and will have white-red-white markings. The ground to be crossed may be steep at times. With good all-weather gear, these walks can be undertaken in less-than-perfect conditions in the latter part of the season, but in June and July, thunderstorms can spring up in minutes and make even the easiest path unpleasant and unsafe.
| Walk |
Difficulty |
Ascent (Metres) |
|---|---|---|
| Schilthorn | T2 | 2110 |
| Faulhorn | T2 | 1784 |
| Brienzer Rothorn | T2 | 1751 |
| Niesen (August 09) | T2 | 1671 |
| Drunengalm | T2 | 1654 |
| Niwen | T2 | 1553 |
| Piz Chavalatsch | T2 | 1512 |
| Monte Tamaro | T2 | 1491 |
| Stockhorn (September 09) | T2 | 1468 |
| Männlichen | T2 | 1446 |
| Niederhorn | T2 | 1398 |
| Oberberghorn | T2 | 1390 |
| Sparrhorn | T2 | 1372 |
| Bella Tola | T2 | 1368 |
| First (Kandersteg) | T2 | 1363 |
| Bunderspitz | T2 | 1345 |
| Männliflue | T2 | 1307 |
| Wiriehorn | T2 | 1306 |
| Unteres Tatelishorn | T2 | 1297 |
| Furggengütsch | T2 | 1221 |
| Hohgant | T2 | 1221 |
| Kanderfirn | T2 | 1217 |
| Hochstollen | T2 | 1211 |
| Gehrihorn | T2 | 1200 |
| Honeggerhorn | T2 | 1188 |
| Munt da la Bes-cha | T2 | 1158 |
| Oberhornsee | T2 | 1155 |
| Kaiseregg | T2 | 1138 |
| Gysnauflue | T2 | 1128 |
| Munt Pers | T2 | 1125 |
| Le Grammont | T2 | 1092 |
| Fuorcla Sesvenna | T2 | 1022 |
| Elsighorn | T2 | 1021 |
| Widdergalm | T2 | 997 |
| First (Grindelwald) | T2 | 939 |
| Piz da l'Ova Cotschna | T2 | 939 |
| Moléson | T2 | 897 |
| Plattenhorn Kreuzgipfel | T2 | 667 |
| Bürglen | T2 | 665 |
| Homad | T2 | 471 |
| (Le Métailler) | T2 | 300 |
