Sonnenlagantalpe

Overview

The hike from Schattenlagantalpe across the wide pastures of Sonnenlagantalpe towards the summit of Mottakopf is an easy half-day affair. It traverses the south slopes of the Wildberg Ridge across the wide pastures of the sunny (name) Sonnenlagantalpe. The route scales 900m of elevation and thus is strenuous but only on the summit will you meet any exposure.

The hike starts with a few hundred metres across a dirt road to Untere Sonnenlagantalpe, from where a winding path takes you across the pastures. Up to the upper pasture there are no difficulties and even above there aren't many to speak of. The hike gets steep in the end, while it winds between the summit rocks and reaches the exposed (to the north) summit risge.

Getting There

The trailhead is at Schattenlagantalpe in the end of Brandnertal Valley. The location and driving instructions are given on the Mottakopf main page. There also is a bus stop at the trailhead.

Route Description

• General:
  
  • Start altitude: 1300m
    
  • Summit altitude: 2176m
    
  • Prevailing exposure: S, N on the summit risge
    
  • Type: Hike
    
  • Protection: None
  
  
• Effort: 2 - Elevation gain: 900m
  
• Power: 2 - Easy
  
• Psyche: 1 - Exposed on the overhanging summit ridge
  
• Difficulty: 1 - Easy hike
  
• Orientation: 1 - Marked and easy

From the parking spot near Gletscherbach Creek return to the road and hike it downvalley around the next bend. At the busstop "Sonnenlagant" turn left (north) onto the dirt road whichheads up beside the creek. After a few hundred metres it turns right and heads directly for the farm buildings of Untere Sonnenlagantalpe (1326m). Right before it reaches the buildings a path turns off to the left (signpost).

The path now leads across the pastures of Sonnenlagantalpe, most of which are oben with only a few trees clustering here and there. In two wide sweeps it takes you to the farm buildings of Obere Sonnenlagantalpe, where a picnic bench and table invite you to take a rest. The spot is famous for iits views across Brandnertal to the Valkastielkamm Ridge, in which Zimba takes the prominent position. But also the close-up view into the impressive horseshoe-shape cirque which is formed by the central mountains of the Schesaplana Group and which was carved by Gletscherbach Creek belongs to the views you will keep in mind from the Rätikon Area.

From the buildings the path first heads steeply upwards towards the Wildberggrat Ridge. Long before it reaches the vertical faces beneath the ridge it turns right (northward) and traverses the slopes, more or less directly heading for Mottakopf. A vertical buttress is passed after which the path heads for the prominent gap between the summit rocks, which offers the weakest spot on the whole ridge. A rocky traverse, a few sweeps across the gap and you stand on the Wildberggrat Ridge only steps away from the summit cross. To the north-west the ridge drops with impressive but brittle overhanging faces deep into Zalimtal. Up front you can see right through Brandnertal towards the provincial capital, Bludenz.

Essential Gear

Hiking gear is sufficient.

Images

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