Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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46.42000°N / 7.53000°E |
Route Type:
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Alpine ski |
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Time Required:
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One to two days |
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Difficulty:
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SGA |
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Approach
There are four different ski descents from Wildstrubel (Engstligen, Laemmeren, Plaine Morte, Ammerten) to chose from. The
most alpline, most beautiful, most difficult and least popular one is the Ammerten descent. Of course, every starting point
(Kandersteg, Lenk, Wildstrubel hut, Laemmeren hut, Gemmi) is suited for climbing Wildstrubel, but the one I like best is the
start at Engstligenalp (see main page). I recommend to stay there over night, since the first cable car in the morning runs too late for this trip. Start early, because you don't want a high temperature during your downhill run. Moreover, you may want to go back to Adelboden in order to get your car, which is not very easy. Either you ski from Lenk to Adelboden, as described below, or take a long journey (Lenk - Zweisimmen - Spiez - Frutigen - Adelboden - Birg). This is probably the reason why you
will not find very many people on this route. Another alternative is to start and end your trip in Lenk, but then you will have to climb 2150 m instead of ca.1550 m in the version described below.
Route Description
Cross the plain of Engstligenalp and head south. The usual track will enter a small valley on your left to Rossfärich and Schönbüel and will continue on the Strubel glacier to the saddle (2827 m) that connects to the Ammerten glacier. It is also possible to climb the huge slope in the middle and cross the Strubel glacier just before reaching the saddle. On the Ammerten glacier you may have to cope with some crevasses and steep slopes. At 3098 m (Strubeljoch) you reach the ridge that leads easily to the Grossstrubel (3243 m) on your left.
On the descent follow the track you came from to altitude of the saddle (2827m). Instead of skiing back to Engstligen ski to the left and cross the Ammerten glacier above the ice fall. At the end of crevasses just ski down and reach the flatter part at 1932 m. Continue your run on the left side of the valley to Staldenweid (1467 m). Now follow more or less the road to Lenk (railroad station). The last 3 km are flat, but after 1 km of walk you will reach a chair-lift station. From there you can either take
a) the shuttle bus to the railroad station
b) take the lift (3 parts) to the Metschstand (2097 m), then ski and walk around (southside) of the Regenboldshorn and ski down to Farn (1680 m), climb the ridge on your right (ca. 1850m, south of Höchsthorn) and ski down to the parking lot (Birg) of the Engstligen cable car near Adelboden. If you are too tired, just ski down to Adelboden and take the bus to Birg (parking lot of the Engstligenalp cable car).
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Essential Gear, Season
Avalanche gear.
February/March may be ideal, there should be some snow in the valleys. If you intend to go back to Engstligenalp, February to May is ok.