The Zingelstöckli via ferrata in Urnerboden was opened earlier this year. It was already described on Hikr by Hikiashi. The short route is perfect for a half-day trip. As the forecast only predicted half a day of goodweather today, it was the perfect time for my own exploration. ---- We start on the white-red-white marked...

Day 1 Ossasco - Capanna Cristallina T2-T3, 1200m ascent, 3h The weather forecast for this Saturday afternoon had been quite wet, but we get lucky and don't get more than a light drizzle during the three hour ascent from Ossasco to the Capanna Cristallina. The visibility is rarely more than 50m, though. The modern incarnation...

How to get as far away from the Street Parade as possible, both geographically and in terms of atmosphere? A two day solo hike with bivouac in the Val Bregaglia seemed about right. The main inspiration for this route came from the Rother Selection "Schweiz 3000" guidebook, as well as from marmotta's 2012 Hikr report. Day 1...

On the final day of my brother's visit to Switzerland, we make use of the "Burgerpass" in Saas-Fee, which gives us free use of the cable cars after staying overnight in the village. We take the "Alpin Express" to the first station at Morenia, where the cable car attendant double-checks that we really intend to get off here,...

If you're only about via ferrata, then the ca. 1500m of ascent involved in doing the Baltschieder Klettersteig is probably too much for you. However, integrate the via ferrata into a two-day adventure with an overnight stay at the Wiwannihütte and you're in for a treat. Day 1 Ausserberg - Suone Niwärch - Baltschieder...

The weather seems rather wet, but after looking at the rain radar, a dry spell of at least three hours seems to be available to us. Should be enough for the La Resgia via ferrata in Pontresina. The rock is still wet from earlier rainfall. This requires some extra care, especially on parts of the via ferrata that are less steep,...

The Piz Julier is one of the highest summits in Switzerland with an official (white-blue-white) hiking path to the top. The mountain is often included in via ferrata guidebooks, but it's certainly not a real via ferrata. There are some fixed chains (starting at ca. 3000m and increasing in frequency higher up), but it's perfectly...

Being located within 20 minutes of the Col Raiser cable car, the large, well-equipped Regensburger Hütte is quite a contrast to the much more rustic Swiss SAC huts that I'm used to. Still, spending the night here is an excellent way to be on the popular Sass Rigais route long before the crowds arrive by gondola. As a bonus, the...

Finally, I've had another chance to visit the Dolomites, even if it was just for two days. The weather forecast for day one was not that great either, but we took our chance anyway, and we were rewarded for that. ---- We take the cable car up to Col Raiser and start in a slightly descending line past the Regensburger Hütte...

The Nadelhorn: not a bad goal for my first 4000m peak :). Day 1 Gasenried - Bordierhütte 4h15, 1250m ascent, 50m descent, T4 The ascent from Gasenried to the Bordierhütte("Bordier" pronounced in a French way)is relatively long but pleasantly varied. The path first goes up through the forrest, then through a fascinating...

Another worthwhile after-work sunset hike, this time onto the Farenstöckli and the Roggenstock. I park the car at the church in Oberiberg. There's an asphalted road to Stafel and then a hiking path to the saddle between Roggenstock and Farenstöckli. I go south along the ridge towards the Farenstöckli, first on a comfortable...

For the second day in a row, I'm venturing into the Uri Alps. And for the second day running, though by total coincidence, I'm going in parinacota's footsteps... This time, our common goal is the Bälmeten. Yesterday we were surprised by the incredible amounts of snow on the Chaiserstock. Today, it's equally astonishing how little...

The Fruttstägä via ferrata is two years old but is yet to see it's first Hikr ascent. It's a short route that can be done in half a day, or it can be the start of a longer tour in the Chaiserstock massif. We go for the second option. From Biel/Kinzig, signposts show the way to the start of the Fruttstägä via ferrata (K4-)....

36km, 3500m ascent, 2900m descent, some 20 summits, 16h45, following the spine of the Brienzer Rothorn massif, including some of the best grass ridges in the Alps. Preface There's a fun exchange of comments in another Hikr report:   Übernachtet habe ich im Hotel Rothorn-Kulm, wie das wohl alle tun (Nik...

Finally I have managed to do another after-work sunset hike. They never disappoint! The mix of clouds and the setting sun created some amazing light. On Hikr, the Lauiberg is often visited as part of a longer and more challenging Sihltal round, but the mountain is also a very worthwhile objective on its own. ---- I park...

You had to participate in the weather lottery, if you wanted to do any hiking this weekend. We gambled on the Büelenhorn and we hit the jackpot. A window of good weather allowed us to reach the summit with fabulous views. And yes, our luck turned in the end: a thunderstorm made us bail from the Stulsergrat and got us pretty wet...

Mweelrea is the highest mountain in the Irish province of Connach. The most interesting popular ascent starts at the northern end of Doo Lough, goes up into the cirque of Glencullin (which even has some proper moraines) and follows a bigramp up the edge of the cirque to a saddle south of the secondary summit of Ben Bury. Though...

Carrauntoohil is Ireland's highest point. Most hikers approach the mountain from the east, parking at either Cronin's Yard or Lisleibane, though ascents from the west are also popular here on Hikr. The three most popular routes from the east are: O'Shea's Gully, which aims for the saddle north of the main summit....

Mount Brandon is the highest point on the Dingle peninsula and the highest Irish mountain outside of MacGillycuddy's Reeks. The most popular ascent is the "Pilgrims path" which passes below the Faha ridge. The Cicerone guidebook "The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland" describes two more challenging routes in the Brandon range:...

Achill Head, at approximately 90m above sea level, might seem like a laughable goal for a hike to the naive Swiss 4000m-bagger. But the appeal of this route lies exactly in the lack of altitude. Being directly surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on both sides, the ridge leading up to Achill Head is one of the most continuously...