Hörnli via Westwand and over all the hills to the top of Zurich – a surprisingly sunny and warm day

I didn’t expect much from the weather on this day, the forecast said something like “föhnige Aufhellungen” but mostly cloudy. So I though I’d give the “classic” amongst the Zürioberland Alpin community the Hörnli Westwand a try and then go home after that. Well, the weather was so gorgeous and warm that I just “couldn’t go home”, but “had to” add a few more peaks in the Zürioberland, including the top of the canton Zurich.

I don’t know the Zürioberland very well and so far wasn’t really interested - where I grew up those "hills" where not really considered as mountains to go to. Now that I live “down there” as well and after all the Zürioberland Alpin posts on hikr I thought I’d give it a try.

The “Hörnli west wall” is described very well by Delta in his report here, and these days it is quite obvious where one needs to go; the path traces are rather clear. The whole wall reminded me a lot of my Albis alpine hikes, except on the Albis you find some sandstone and not so much conglomerate. I agree with Delta’s remark in his last visit a few weeks ago - it is not all that difficult and it’s definitely not a hard T5 (any more) under normal conditions. After reading all the posts I wasn’t sure what to expect so just in case took my pick along. However, I only used it because I had it with me, but wouldn’t have needed it. ossi’s “Gipfelbuch" is still there, in good condition and waiting for more entries...

On the Hörnli, I was very surprised again how warm and sunny it was and really didn’t feel like going home already. I remembered that the Schnebelhorn is the highest point of the canton Zurich and that I have never been on it. A short consultation of the map showed me that the Schnebelhorn is only about 3 hours away and that there are quite a few hills on the way there too. So I walked over to the Schnebelhorn sometimes on the path - most of the time not and walking more or less over every elevation. It is quite pretty and if you follow the path probably only a T2. The exact path was via Chlihörnli – Silberbüel – Ergeten – Regelsberg – Schlattberg – Hulftegg – Chrüzbüel – Älpli – Roten – Hirzegg and then up to the Schnebelhorn.

Since I didn’t bring enough beverages along for a longer hike I went for a drink in the restaurant Tierhag and sat there for quite a while in the warm sun. Since the “bad weather” still didn’t want to come, I also added Hinter Warten and Warten to the list of visited hills for the day and from Stralegg walked along the marked path to Fischenthal.

Conclusion:
- “föhnige Aufhellungen” can turn into a very nice sunny day (if you’re lucky)
- Zürioberland Alpin is definitely worth revisiting
- You get funny looks and comments from other hikers, when you walk along T1/2’s with a pick and alpine gear (Somebody asked me if I’m going to the Säntis :-)

 Steg - Lipperschwändi - Nideltobel – Bärtobel – Hörnli Westwand – Hörnli – Chlihörnli – Silberbüel – Ergeten – Regelsberg – Schlattberg – Hulftegg – Chrüzbüel – Älpli – Roten – Hirzegg – Schnebelhorn – Tierhag – Hinter Warten – Warten – Stralegg – Chleger – Orüti – Breitenmatt – Bodmen –  Fischenthal