North-east ridge (from Alp Mad) | Mountain hiking | Swiss Alpine Club SAC
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North-east ridge (from Alp Mad) (Normal route) Bim Signal 2068 m

  • Difficulty
    T4
  • Ascent
    3:45 h, 1310 m
  • Descent
    2:45 h, 1470 m

Simple name, great landscape

Engelhörner are climbing terrain: the steep limestone spires leave no doubt about that. Alpine hikers are restricted to the peak with the simple name «Bim Signal» on the very north-east end of the Engelhörner chain. Its south wall is climbing terrain as well. As plain as the name may be, the ascent with a few exposed passages and the view from the summit into the vertical Engelhörner walls, down to Ürbachtal and on to the mountains of the Grimsel and Susten regions is first class.

Route description

Bus stop Geissholz, Hori – Alp Mad
From the Hori bus stop hike a few steps uphill on the road to the next side road on the left. On this road continue slightly downhill through a forest. After the forest you find the marked mountain hiking trail, a gravel path, which branches off uphill. You reach this point also from the bus stop Dorf straight uphill (marked hiking trail from Dorf). On the gravel path ascend until the bend at P. 850. Then the narrow path branches off uphill again. In many turns the path zigzags up the ever steeper face, at first in a dense, then a sparse forest. Some passages are fairly exposed. Caution is highly advised in wet, icy or snowy conditions (north-west exposure). Some passages are secured with ropes, chains and steps. On Burgalp the slope reclines all of a sudden, and it is easy to reach Alp Mad (1589 m).
Alp Mad – Bim Signal – Alp Mad
On Alp Mad the marked mountain hiking trail ends. Continuing, you will find some old blue markings, but they do not help much. South of Alp Mad bypass a mound of rock and continue south-west on a faint path. Several faint paths branch off up and down, but hike on in the same direction (south-west) until above you you see a passage between rock structures. The faint path leads through. Then continue, making a turn slightly to the right (north-west), then left (south), until you come out south-west of P. 1869. Slightly south-west of a mound ascend on a very faint path to another flat area at ca. 1940 m. The path disappears more and more. Now making another turn to the right (north-west), continue up between rocks and through dwarf pines to another grassy terrace, from where the summit with the sign is visible and easy to reach on moderately steep slopes. Descend to Alp Mad on the same way.
Alp Mad – Innertkirchen
From Alp Mad at first descend back to Burgalp on the same route. At the bifurcation right below the alp take the path to the right and descend via Alleschwendi to reach the road in Ürbachtal. Walk a few steps on the road, then you find a narrow hiking trail which leads beautifully to Innertkirchen via Flieli; at the end walk along the Aare canal to Grimseltor.

Additional information

Departure point

Geissholz, Hori (800 m)

Alternative Haltestelle 400m weiter östlich bei Geissholz: Geissholz, Dorf

End point

Innertkirchen Grimseltor (625 m)

Difficulty / Material

On the ascent from Geissholz there are exposed passages in a steep face, where being sure-footed and unafraid of heights are key, despite a marked trail newly repaired (2018). From Alp Mad you encounter sparse marking and only faint trails. In case of fog the orientation in the richly structured landscape with its many hills is difficult.

Various

Geissholz, Dorf (786 m)

Alternative starting point which may make more sense than Geissholz, Hori, depending on the bus schedule.

Authors

Fredy Joss

Sabine und Fredy Joss

Alpine hiking, climbing and other mountain sports Sabine and Fredy Joss's passion. They have been writing and photographing for the SAC publishing house and the club magazine Die Alpen for many years. Sabine is also a biologist and tour guide; Fredy a proofreader and editor for various magazines.

Sabine Joss

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