The Hoher Kasten is a panorama-view mountain in the North-east corner of Switzerland. From it's summit you can see 4 countries: Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany and off course Switzerland.
With it's 1795 meter the Hoher Kasten is the outmost summit off the North-east part off Switzerland.
The outstanding summit is from the Appenzeller side, since 1964 connected with a cable car, which brings you in only 8 minutes from Brülisau to a 871 meter difference.

Routes

The Alpstein region offers a lot of routes. To climb the Hoher Kasten, the

normal route via Ruhsitz starts in Brülisau. From this point you have to climb 800 meters to reach the summit.
Startingpoint is the free parking place in front of the Cablecar station and the church. The first part leads you through green meadows with steap passages. After a hike off about 90 minutes you reach Berggasthaus Ruhsitz. From this point you enter rocky ground of the mountain. Within another 90 minutes you reach the saddle. Turn left to the Hoher Kasten neighbour the Kamor (1751m.), or walk to the right to enter the final ascent to the Hoher Kasten summit.

The Hoher Kasten is also a part of a spectacular mountain trail from Staubern up to the Hoher Kasten summit. It's a great hiking tour witch start at the Bus stop in Brülisau and leads you via the Sämtisersee, Staubern (1693m.), Hoher Kasten back to Brülisau. Hikers who don't know the terrain may at times get a queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach, since the trail leads through rocky terrain with steep descents. This route will take you 5 hours (descent with cable car) or 7 hours if you are hiking back to Brülisau.
Detail map route via Staubern

When To Climb

The Hoher Kasten mostly is climbed from May to October. In May there can be a lot of snow which can make the area slippery and dangerous. It seems that this part off Switzerland is a very snowy region.
current weather in N-E Switzerland
There are no permits required.

Getting There

Alpstein or Appenzelleland is very easy to reach. It's situated 30 km. below St. Gallen and the Bodensee. Mainvillage is Appenzell (785m.).
From Zürich, wich can be reached by air (Kloten Airport), drive into eastern direction on the 1 / E60 to Winterthur / St. Gallen. From there follow the signs Appenzell, Weissbad and Brüllisau village (922m.). In front of the church and the cablecar booth is a parking place where the route to the Hoher Kasten and the Kamor (1751m.) via Ruhsitz start.

Maps

Wanderkarte 1: 40000 Säntis - Alpstein
wanderkarte Wanderwege in Appenzellerland.

Where To Stay

In this region there are a lot Berggasthauser where you can rent a room or a place in the so called "matrazenlager", a large room with a lot off beds. You can also sleep on top of this mountain.
Berggasthaus Hoher Kasten , open April-November, tel: 071 799 11 17.
Berggasthaus Ruhsitz, open April-Februari, tel: 071799 11 67.
Berggasthaus Plattenbödeli, open May - November, tel: 071 799 11 52.

Avalanche info

For avalange info: SLF Gefahrenkarte

Images



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