Gafallengrat Variant

Andermatt

An alternative descent option for the Gafallengrat ski tour.

Ski Touring Difficult

Distance: 5 km
Ascent: 199 m
Descent: 1.1 km
Duration: 1-2 hrs

Low Point: 2 km
High Point: 2.9 km
Gradient: 40˚

From Top of Gemsstock you cross directly under the black/yellow rope, heading south into off-piste terrain. The first part is about 35 degrees for a few turns, then flat and then again 35 degrees for twice as long, and with a lot of traversing. When you arrive 100 metres beneath a little pass, keep on your very left and go onto a kind of flat ridge. There you have a long, wide ride down, heading northeast.

Photo from Gafallengrat Variant — Photo: SNOWBOARDGUIDES.COM

Description

Now, you have to put your skins to continue straight ahead, still going northeast. You gain about 150 vertical metres while going up to the ridge. From there you come "back" south-eastwards, following little valleys. When you arrive at a hut (Gafallenstaffe, 2334 metres) you are perfect.

Further left, it gets steeper and not very comfortable in the late season when it is heating up. Keep going down to the bottom of the Unteralpthal, pass by the Vermigelhütte, and arrive after 30-40 minutes in Andermatt.