Chapf + Margelchopf (NW ridge)

From last year's hike on Glannachopf, Chli Fulfirst and Gross Fulfirst, I already knew that the Werdenberg area is beautiful in autumn colours. This time, we start at Voralp, which we find almost completely deserted at this time of year. We hike up via Ingarnascht, Schlösslichopf and (tonguetwister!) Isisizsess to the Chapf. The Chapf summit, with vertical drops to the north, is an easy and worthwhile diversion from the marked hiking path.

We cross the marked hiking path again and head directly for the Margelchopf north-west ridge (T5-). A blue arrow tells us to go left around the first rocks. From this point, old white-blue-white markings show the way. The scrambling starts in earnest when the route heads up to a chimney leading to a narrow gap between the rocks (II, excellent limestone rock, but could be tricky when taken in descent, and there are a few polished rocks that would be treacherous when wet). After crossing a grassy saddle, the route traverses to the right a little before climbing through a gully (Schrofen and scree). We enjoy some proper scrambling again at the top of the gully, but the route tops out on the Marchelchopf summit all too soon. There are quite a few people here (almost all of them having hiked up from Berghaus Malbun) but the wide summit has amply space for everybody.

We descend on the normal route (T3, short section with fixed cables) to the Isisizgrat saddle. Here, we head to Isisizsess and find ourselves on the quiet side of the mountain again. We walk down via Ober- and Unterlänggli to the Voralpsee. Since everything is closed at Voralp, we drive down to the old town of Werdenberg to have a drink there.