From Wolzenalp on the north ridge | Mountain hiking

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Speer
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- From Wolzenalp on the north ridge
From Wolzenalp on the north ridge

From Wolzenalp on the north ridge Speer 1951 m

Difficulty

T5
Ascent

4 h, 1100 m
Descent

2–3 h, 920 m

European record in sand and stone

The bench on the concrete platform on top of Speer is very comfortable. At first the solid handrail of the platform may seem rather overdone, but the view down to Toggenburg from the exposed platform can indeed cause dizziness. If you ascend on the itinerary along the north ridge described here, which is equipped with steel cables, you have time to get used to being exposed. With some luck you may see ibex, stoically watching you ascend. The information boards of the geology trail on the summit tell you that the geology of Speer is something special. The conglomerate rock called Nagelfluh (small stones embedded in sandstone), normally a feature of the Mittelland, reaches up to a record high altitude of almost 2000 m.

Worm’s-eye view of the Speer north ridge © Fabian Lippuner

The first steps on the Speer north ridge © Fabian Lippuner

Alpine hiking on Europe’s highest Nagelfluh summit © Fabian Lippuner

Route description

Wolzenalp - Elisalp – beginning of the north ridge

From the Wolzenalp summit station take the hiking trails marked yellow to the summit station of the ski lift. From there hike horizontally below Bremacher Höchi and on the west of Bützalpsattel (1591 m). Descend towards Elisalp for a short while, then take the white-red marked trail traversing to the saddle below the north ridge of Speer (you may descend completely to the picturesque Elisalp, if you like).

Speer north ridge

Climb the white-blue marked trail on the north ridge equipped with steel cables to the summit of Speer. The upper part is characterised by a crawling passage.

Speer - Oberchäsere – Niederschlag chair lift

From Speer descend on a white-red marked mountain hiking trail on the steep south face to reach Oberchäsere. Continue in hilly terrain to reach the narrow road, which via Hinter Höhi leads to the summit station of the chair lift on Mattstock. Take the chair lift down to Amden, Post.

Variant without the chair lift directly to Amden

Shortly after Hinter Höhi, at Gäudig (P. 1375), you can descend directly to Amden (add ½ h).

Variant: descent back to Toggenburg

If you want to return to Toggenburg, take the marked mountain hiking trail eastward, overcoming the Leiterli escarpment. This way you get back to Wolzenalp, T3+, 2 h. Game reserve, do not stray off the mountain hiking trail.

Additional information

Departure point

Wolzenalp (1115 m)

Sesselbahn Krummenau - Wolzenalp www.wolzen.ch

Get there Google Maps

Rietbach

End point

Amden Niederschlag, Bergstation (1289 m)

Sesselbahn Amden-Niderschlag www.amden-weesen.ch/Attraktionen/Sesselbahn-Mattstock-Sommerbetriebost

Get there Google Maps

Niederschlag

Time: Wolzenalp - Bützalpsattel - Elisalp – north ridge - Speer: 4 h

Speer - Ober Chäseren - Hinter Höhi - Niederschlag summit station (- Amden): 2–3 h

Difficulty / Material: The Speer north ridge is neither a via ferrata nor an undemanding trail equipped with some steel cables. It is marked white-blue (alpine route). A number of exposed passages require a firm grip and a few passages graded I require som courage, as they need to be overcome without the help of cables. Experienced hikers do not need a via ferrata set, but for beginners it is highly recommended. The other ascent and descent trails marked white-red are easy to negotiate (T3). Be careful in wet weather: Nagelfluh gets dangerously slippery.

Waypoints

Hinter Höhi (1415 m)

Amden, Post (908 m)

End point of the tour if you do not take the chair lift

Catering and overnight stay: Alp Oberchäsere
Dormitory, call 055 611 11 71, www.alp-oberchaeseren.ch

: Obere Rossalp
Dormitory and simple meals, call 055 283 12 82 www.linth.net/regional/alpen/rossalp.htm

Neighbor summit

Speermürli (1744 m)

The little „brother“ of Speer (another one is Chli Speer) can be added to the tour. It offers an interesting view to the north ridge. At ca. 1600 m on the ascent to the Speer north ridge branch off north-eastward and scramble through the lush vegetation to reach the summit cross and the summit book (T3, add ½ h).

Chli Speer (1713 m)

The second little „brother“ can also be added to the tour. At ca. 1600 m on the ascent to the Speer north ridge branch off north-westward and scramble through the lush vegetation to reach the summit cross and the summit book (T3, add ½ h).