From Wisshorelücke and on the west face | Mountain hiking

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- From Wisshorelücke and on the west face
From Wisshorelücke and on the west face

From Wisshorelücke and on the west face (Normal route) Rohrbachstein 2949 m

Difficulty

T4+
Ascent

1:30 h, 280 m
Descent

3:15 h, 1580 m

A rock castle on a mountain of rubble

If you start from Pointe de la Plaine Morte, you reach Rohrbachstein pretty fast. Those who want to take it easier, can enjoy an original summit in a terrific high alpine landscape characterised by the Glacier de la Plaine Morte and the surrounding summits. There are turquoise or deeply blue mountain lakes glowing deep below, and on the descent to Iffigenalp the vast landscape of Rawilpass does not fail to impress the hikers.

Scrambling on the summit structures of Rohrbachstein (08/2015) © Fredy Joss

The unique structure of the Rohrbachstein summit with an attractive route and an excellent view (08/2015) © Sabine Joss

Route description

Glacier-de-la-Plaine-Morte – Bifurcation of the mountain hiking trail (chimmney)

From the aerial cable way station Glacier-de-la-Plaine-Morte take the marked mountain hiking trail towards Wildstrubelhütte across Pointe de la Plaine Morte, then descend northward past Pointe de Vatseret and ascend to Wisshorelücke (2851 m). Continue south-westward until the mountain hiking trail descends southward through a steep chimney.

Bifurcation of the mountain hiking trail (chimney) – Rohrbachstein –back to the bifurcation

Still above the chimney branch off the trail and ascend to Rohrbachstein more or less on the border between Berne and Valais. At first you hike on slabs and scree, further up it is fine rubble with faint trails and cairns. Go north round the summit rocks until you end on the western face. Now, helped by fixed ropes, scramble up to the summit on rocky steps, through corners and over ledges. On the same itinerary hike back to the chimney where you find again the mountain hiking trail.

Bifurcation of the mountain hiking trail (chimney) – Wildstrubelhütte

From the chimney go back to Wisshorelücke on the mountain hiking trail and descend, again on a mountain hiking trail, to Wildstrubelhütte.

Wildstrubelhütte SAC – Iffigenalp

From Wildstrubelhütte towards Rawilpass. Branch off to the right (north) at the bifurcation on P. 2554 above Rawilseeleni, pass the lakes and descend to Iffigenalp via Blattihütte. On the lower part of the trail there are some rather exposed passages.

Variant: Bifurcation of the mountain hiking trail (chimney) – Cabane-des-Violettes CAS

From Rohrbachstein descend on the Valais side: from the summit go back to the aforementioned chimney. Descend through the chimney (fixed rope, iron steps) and continue down past Weisshornsee (Lac de Huiton), at the bifurcation P. 2448 branch off eastward, cross Col de l’Arpochey and hike down to the Cabane-des-Violettes gondola station. Chimney–Cabane-des-Violettes T3, 2 h 30 min.

Variant: Barrage du Rawil – Rohrbachstein

From Barrage du Rawil / Lac de Tseuzier (bus from Sion): attractive ascent above the artificial lake and across the vast Rawilpass. The mountain hiking trails are marked. Barrage – Rohrbachstein ca. 5 h. The same route can be undertaken on the descent, too. Unfortunately, there are few bus connections from/to Barrage du Rawil.

Additional information

Departure point

Glacier-de-la-Plaine-Morte, mountain station (2881 m)

From 2020 dynamic prices www.mycma.ch/en/shop

Information about the cable cars: www.crans-montana.ch

Get there Google Maps

Glacier-de-la-Plaine-Morte

End point

Iffigenalp (1584 m)

Access by car alternating traffic from Hubelmatte uphill: x.30 to x.45 hrs, downhill: x.00 to x.15 hrs.

Regular bus in the summer season or Alpentaxi from Lenk: 4x4 taxi (Tel. +41 33 733 33 33)

Get there Google Maps

Lenk, Iffigenalp

Difficulty / Material: The mainly easy hikes are on mountain hiking trails in the beginning and then on faint trails through rubble as far as the summit rocks. The latter are overcome by easy scrambling and with the help of fixed ropes. It is moderately exposed, but some passages are slippery. Until late in the summer, one encounters snow fields. On the descent, there are a few exposed passages on the mountain hiking trail.

Waypoints

Pointe de la Plaine Morte (2926 m)

The itinerary touches this summit slightly above the aerial cableway station Glacier-de-la-Plaine-Morte.

Wisshorelücke (VS) (2851 m)

The hub of all these routes. Ascent, descent and variants touch this col.

Wildstrubelhütte SAC (2793 m)

It offers the possibility to spread the tour over two days and is the ideal opportunity for a rest.

Cabane des Violettes CAS (2209 m)

Endpoint of the alternative descent. Right by the cabin there is the connecting station of the same name of the cableways between Montana and Glacier de la Plaine Morte.

Rawilpass (2427 m)

The col and its vast alluvial plain can be enjoyed on the alternative route from/to Lac de Tseuzier. Hiking on the main route, one looks down to the col.

Barrage du Rawil (Lac de Tseuzier) (1779 m)

Starting or endpoint of the alternative across Rawilpass.

Neighbor summit

Tothore / Tothorn (2934 m)

Beautiful vantage point above Glacier de la Plaine Morte. A ca. 30 min. hike on marked mountain hiking trails eastwards from the cableway station Glacier-de-la-Plaine-Morte brings you to the summit. T2.