Barrhorn

Overview

Barrhorn is a mountain in the southwestern part of Switzerland, in the canton Valais (Wallis). Located in Weisshorn Group of the Pennine Alps it is part of the ridge that separates the famous Matter valley from the mostly unknown Turtmann valley.

Barrhorn has two summits: Inners Barrhorn (3583m) and the Üssers Barrhorn (3610m).

Barrhorn has become sort of famous as being the highest “hiking-mountain” in Switzerland, or even of the entire Alps. Although a mountain of 3600m (11844ft) elevation, the western flanks are free of ice and of moderate steepness. So in fact - under normal summer conditions an experienced hiker is able to reach that summit of remarkable height following a distinct path from turtmann hut. And he reaches an amazing lookout position next to the 4000m mountains of Bishorn and Weisshorn and the nearer Brunegghorn (3833m).

The north faces of these mountains can be seen well. They still look very impressive - but ice and firn melts quickly even in these north faces - they suffer from global warming.

The route from Topali hut is slightly more difficult. A harmless glacier (Schölligletscher, no warranty for that, but I think there are no crevasses) has to be crossed and a short via ferrata leads to Schöllijoch pass (3343m) where you meet the hiking route from Turtmann hut.

Barrhorn 3610m in the background

Route & Difficulty

From the Turtmann hut 2519m:
Turtmann hut 2519m - Gässi 2641m - follow the mountain path to the Barrhorn 3610m. (if there is no fog, you will find it easy)

Difficulty: T4 or L (F)


From the Topali hut 2674m:
Topali hut 2674m - Schöllijoch 3343m - Barrhorn 3610m.
(from there it is more difficult)

Difficulty: T5 or WS- (PD-)

on route to Barrhorn

Accommodations

Topali hut (2674m)

Turtmann hut (2519m)

Turtmann hut 2519m - Link: www.turtmannhuette.ch

Topali hut 2674m - Link: www.topalihut.ch

Getting There

With public transport:

From Berne with train to Kandersteg and across the Lötschberg tunnel to Visp. Then change of train to the station Turtmann. With the yellow post bus into the Turtmann valley to the small village Gruben 1818m.

Online train schedule (public transport Switzerland): SBB schedule


By Car:

From Berne to Kandersteg. With Lötschberg car transport train to Goppenstein and Visp. Then to the village Turtmann and into the Turtmann valley to Gruben 1818m. Driving up to Vorder Sänntum 1901m.

Online route scheduler: route scheduler in english and TCS.ch

Weather, climate and snow conditions in Switzerland

Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Weather SFDRS

Meteo News.ch

Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research Davos: www.slf.ch

Links

Switzerland Tourism: www.myswitzerland.com

Valais tourism: www.valaistourism.ch

In Memory of Cyrill Rüegger

Cyrill Rüegger

The creator of this page, Cyrill Rüegger, the member known as "Cyrill" and "Digitalis", died on June 13th 2009 in an avalanche on the summit ridge of Piz Palü together with his wife Tanja and a common friend. They were swept down by the avalanche into a couloir underneath the east summit and died instantly. Their bodies were retrieved from the Palü Glacier by helicopter a day after the accident.

Cyrill joined SP in March 2006 and soon was one of the most prolific contributors on the site with almost 70 mountain and 5 range pages to his profile. He was an accomplished climber, bagging almost 1000 summits in not quite seven years. Among them are 35 4000ers and 272 3000ers, almost all of them in his home country Switzerland.

While contributing a lot on SP, Cyrill's real internet home was www.hikr.org where he contributed 585 mountain profiles and reports in his native language German. Cyrill also posted on www.bergsteigen.at and other climbing sites, often under his real name but also under the pseudonym Digitalis. He was a botanist by profession and also contributed his knowledge about medical plants to different websites. Cyrill will be greatly missed by all.

This page will be kept in honour of Cyrill, one of SP's most prolific members and most active mountaineers.

Rest in peace, brother!