Silvretta



Starter

For a smooth start we reserved the first day for a dayhike from Kappl to the Niederelbe Hut. For the record: This hut is not part of Silvretta and belongs to the Verwall-Group. On the right the cable car with a load of empties, the Paznaun valley in the background.

Niederelbe Hut Material Lift


Stone

Going up the Fimba Valley, you will pass this huge stone, huge enough to host a bench.

Fimba

The Fimbabach at a late hour near the Heidelberger Hut, which is already located on Swiss territory.
Stone Fimbach


On snow

From the Heidelberger Hut we go up to cross the Kronenjoch (2980 m).

Wrong

Up on the pass, everything is good and well, except that we are on the wrong pass. Fuorcla da Tasna, says the fallen sign.
Upper Fimbach Fuorcla da Tasna


Fuorcla da Tasna

Even if we are in the wrong place, we enjoy the view into Switzerland from 2835 m.

From Fuorcla da Tasna


Next Try

Getting to our pass requires a little retreat and a new ascent over snowfields.

Kronenjoch

Here we are. At 2980 m. The little glacier on the left is the Obere Augustenferner. How long will it last?
Snowfields From Kronenjoch


Futschöl Valley

The descent from Kronenjoch is beautiful, despite of the weather.

Futschöl Valley Futschöl Valley


Glaciers

The Wiesbadener Hut offers great views at the nearby glaciers. It's just a two hours walk from Lake Silvretta and attracts a crowd of day-hikers.

Schneeglocken Glacier Glacier


Panorama

A coffee or a beer on the terrace of Wiesbadener Hut in combination with a great view of the glaciers melting away in the warmer climate. Old photographs from a visit in the late 1980ies clearly demonstrate the change.

Glaciers


Spring Gentian

Tafted Leopard's bane (Doronicum clusii)
Spring Gentian Flower


Alpine Pasqueflower

Sunset

The Kleine Schattenspitze (2703 m) during sunset.
Yellow ??? Kleine Schattenspitze


Silvretta Lake

Construction started in 1938. The reservoir at 2030 m collects water for hydropower plants, including the water of the river Ill.

Ill River Lake Silvretta


Klostertaler Bach

Another river gives its waters for electricity.

Kloster Valley Kloster Valley


Lake

A small lake high up near the Litznersattel is still thawing in July. In the background the Großlitzner (3109 m).

Lake near Litznersattel


Litznersattel

A big stone on the 2740 m pass watches over our packs.

Snow

Thawing snowfields on the way to Saarbrücker Hut.
Litznersattel Melting snowfield


From Saarbrücker Hut

Left to right: Litznersattel 2740 m, Großlitzner 3109 m, Großes Seehorn 3122 m, and Seelücke 2770 m.

Grosses Seehorn and Grosslitzner


Glacier

These are the remnants of the Litzner Glacier on the north-flank of Großlitzner.

Traverse

A view to the south from the ascent to the Plattenjoch.
Litzner Glacier Before Plattenjoch


From Seelücke

From above, the Litzner Glacier still has a healthy white look.

Litzner Glacier from Seelücke


Seehorns

The Große and Kleine Seehorn with the See Glacier in between, seen from the Plattenjoch (2728 m).

From Plattenjoch

Surprisingly, to the other northern side it looks greener, but the weather turns in on us.
From Plattenjoch to See Glacier From Plattenjoch


Ascent

Back down goes the look at our way to Hochmadererjoch.

Hochmaderer

The Hochmadererjoch (2505 m) on the left with the Hochmaderer (2823 m) and the Silvretta dam below.
Ascent to Hochmadererjoch Hochmaderer


Descent

One from our descent down the Hochmadererjoch.

Kresperspitze


Reservoirs

A look at the Vermunt reservoir (down left) and the Silvretta dam with the connecting Silvretta road and the Kresperspitze (2620 m) in the middle.

Lake Vermont


Dam

The 80 m high Silvretta dam.

Madlener House

A comfortable hut directly underneath the dam.
Silvretta Dam Madlenerhaus


From the dam

Most of the water now flows through a pipeline down to the Vermont reservoir and into a turbine.

From Silvretta Dam


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