West ridge (from Gspon via Simelihorn) | Mountain hiking

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Mattwaldhorn
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- West ridge (from Gspon via Simelihorn)
West ridge (from Gspon via Simelihorn)

West ridge (from Gspon via Simelihorn) Mattwaldhorn 3249 m

Difficulty

T4-
Ascent

4:30 h, 1420 m
Descent

3:30 h, 1420 m

Surrounded by fourthousanders

The hike to Simelihorn and Mattwaldhorn offers a number of scenic highlights. In the lower part it is the larch and pine, which grows here up to a timberline at ca. 2400 m. The segments on the ridge are multifaceted and require some scrambling, but never get dangerous, and the panoramic view from the summit goes to the highest peaks of the Valais and the Bernese Alps.

On Mattwaldhorn. On the left-hand sie is the Mischabel range, on the right-hand side Weisshorn. (09/2007) © Fredy Joss

View from Simelhorn across the west ridge to Mattwaldhorn. In the background are Fletschhorn, Lagginhorn and Weissmies. (09/2007) © Fredy Joss

Route description

Gspon – hut at P. 2416

From the Gspon summit station walk on the small road past the church to reach the trail making a wide arc outside the dwelling until in front of a small creek several trails meet. Cross the creek and hike on a faint trail on its north bank until the forest edge. Continue along this edge until before the ski lift a very faint path branches off uphill. Ascend on this path, cross a wider trail, then hike partly fairly steeply, but on a distinct trail, through the Bleike forest to Alp Sänntum (2168 m). Continue again on a wide trail to Häüschbiele. Now hike, at first on a faint path, south of a cross standing on a promontory. Make sure that you do not miss the path to the right (south-east). Soon the path is more visible leading along the slopes, partly through beautiful larch and pine trees to a cabin at P. 2416.

Hut at P. 2416 – Mattwaldhorn

From the hut at P. 2416 ascend the grassy slopes interspersed with rocks named Ze Wiedlinu (hardly visible, faint path and sparse markings) to the lowest point on the ridge Lägunde Tschuggo (P. 2776). Behind this point traverse a depression to reach the next, parallel running ridge. On this ridge ascend southward and south-westward (white-red-white markings, some cairns). They lead up to the north-east ridge of Simelihorn, which brings you, at the end on a scree slope, to the summit. South-east of Simelihorn descend to a saddle and follow the western ridge with faint paths and markings and some easy scrambling passages to the summit of Mattwaldhorn.

Descent

Descend to Gspon on the same route.

Alternative descent to Visperterminen

At first descend on the main route to the ridge next to Lägunde Tschuggo. Then go eastward to reach the lake in Findletälli and Blausee (Blawe See) in Gspontälli. Now hike south-eastward to Schwarzbach and the Heido aqueduct. Hike along the aqueduct through Nanztal and across Gibidumpass to Giw (chair-lift to Visperterminen, bus to Visp). Mattwaldhorn – Giw 4 h. This route can also be undertaken in the ascent; it is somewhat easier, but clearly longer than the main route.

Additional information

Departure and arrival point

Gspon, Bergstation (1889 m)

Informationen zur Seilbahn Stalden – Gspon: www.luftseilbahn-staldenried.ch

Get there Google Maps

Gspon (Bergstation)

Difficulty / Material: Near the summit there are white-red-white markings and cairns, whereas longer stretches are on a very faint path at best.

The route between Blausee (Blawe See) and Mattwaldhorn (alternative descent) is now marked white-blue-white.

Waypoints

Simelihorn (VS) (3123 m)

Summit traversed on the way to Mattwaldhorn.

Gibidumpass (2200 m)

Col crossed on the variant.

Giw, Bergstation (1962 m)

Endpoint (summit station) of the alternative descent.

Visperterminen, Busterminal (1336 m)

Endpoint on the alternative descent.

Neighbor summit

Ochsehorn (2912 m)

Ochsehorn (2912 m): from Gspon go northward to the ski-lift and follow it to its end, then continue southward to P. 2365. Follow Wyssgrat to P. 2884. Now hike north-eastward across the saddle at P. 2806 to reach Ochsehorn. 3½ h ascent, 2 h descent, T3. Alternative descent to Blausee, Heido aqueduct and Giw: 3 h descent, T3.