The ornate and fabulous Appenzell is certainly the most unusual canton in Switzerland. The Santis range that towers over the quircky and charming village of Appenzell is a magnificently convoluted maze of limestone peaks and spires. Our circumnavigation of the range begins and ends in this wonderful village and travels through the most remote high valleys en route.
This is a trek with a high adventure component. The trails, while not particularly strenuous are exciting and engaging as they snake their way in and around and over these fabulous limestone features. A sophisticated hut system makes keeping our altitude in this range possible. These are not the huts you normally think of in the Alps. Many are magnificent affairs in great locations with outstanding cuisine, big down comforters, and hot water and showers. This is the perfect outing for those wishing to experience an adventure very few people know exists in this marvelous part of the world.
Appenzell prides itself on a highly evolved culinary tradition. This ranges from exquisite continental cuisine in the towns and superb and satisfying traditional cooking in the high mountains. Appenzell has what most experts and aficionados declare to be the best cheese in Switzerland and this year, for the second in a row, the canton has received the award for the best raclette cheese in the country.
The people of Appenzell are a remarkably proud bunch. They seceded from St. Gallen in 1403 and have morphed into two “half cantons”, Appenzell Innerhoden and Appenzell Usserhoden. Appenzell Innerhoden is the Protestant pocket cradled in the arms of Appenzell Usserhoden, the Roman Catholic counterpart. All ballots are by popular vote with the people of Appenzell not trusting their elected officials to represent them.
Tradition is extremely important in this canton. It is not unusual to see Appenzeller men carefully tending their herds shoeless, dressed in traditional garb, smoking a pipe and with a small cow earring shining brightly on one ear.
The trails on which we travel on this trek are superb and meticulously made. This is a good thing since the terrain through which they travel is sometimes extremely steep. Cables and short ladders are not unusual to help ease sections it steeper terrain. Were it not for the proximity of St. Gallen, one of Switzerland’s larger cities, we would not enjoy such high quality trails in this region. The people of St, Gallen treat the Santis range as their personal and highly beloved mountain playground and have invested extensively in its upkeep.
The culture, the terrain and the hiking in Appenzell are absolutely unique and a delight to all who have the good fortune to explore there.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Travel to Appenzell and meet your guides and group for orientation and dinner at an excellent four star hotel on the main square.
Day 2 Begin a fabulous odyssey through this land seemingly plucked right out of a fairy tale. The trails are serpentine, precipitous and exciting. The first night is spent on the lakeside of the Falensee in the Berghaus Bollenwees.
Day 3 The second day travels into the heart of the range with a hike over the Zwinglipass and Rotsteinpass. Along the way enjoy an optional ascent of the Altmann, the second highest peak in the range. Time permitting you can try your hand at rock climbing in the afternoon or just relax on the pastoral grounds of the Berghaus Meglisalp, a fascinating place that is also a working farm.
Day 4 The next day climbs to the summit of the Santis, the highest peak in the range. Overnight in a fabulous guesthouse perched high on a ridge overlooking northeastern Switzerland.
Day 5 Today you have a lovely ridgewalk and traverse to Ebenalp. Ebenalp is a dramatically situated hut and chapel that are carved into a steep limestone cliffband high above the valley. Return to Appenzell through forest and meadows and finish in our superb hotel situated on the town square.
Day 6 Depart |
