BLS Südrampe trail: images and information

Occasionally we discuss the trail named in the title.

There are a lot of links on line, but some of the best are only in German.

There is a mention here in My Swiss Alps:

www.myswissalps.com/hi king/hohtenn-lalden/route

I have hiked (or walked) the section from Hohtenn to Ausserberg many times, and onward to Lalden at least once.

Because the Rhone alley is often dry and sunny when the rest of Switzerland is having disagreeable weather, this trail is a useful resource, easily accessible by train. It is hot and dry in the Summer months.

Since the new "basis" tunnel from nerar Frütigen to Visp opened, there is local train service over the very scenic old route from Bern to Brig via Kandersteg, on the train named "Lötschberger" or Lötschberg Express.'

Here are a few photos from along the trail, starting at Hohtenn Station.

More in another post

Slowpoke

More photos of the BLS Südrampe Trail

third set of photos of the BLS Südrampe trail

4th set of photos of the BLS Südrampe trail.

The pictures of debris (#29) and trail maintenance were taken on a walk in the spring, just before Easter. The trail was not officially open , but was passable, with care. It opens at Easter time, if I recall correctly.

The trail sign at Station Hohtenn in image number 3 shows that the trail was closed. There were several walkers on it anyway... By the time thatthe trail was fully open, the debris would be removed, and the handrails installed at appropriate locations.

In spite of the fact that the trail was "closed" the beer garden (Image #21) above Raron was open, and serving hikes as well as people who came up there by car. There is a road up the side wall of the valley to that point.

The water channels (bisse) are a centuries old mechanism for bringing water from snow melt to the dry farms on the valley walls. There are a set of traditions and customs going back about 1,000 years associated with the bisse.

In the old days, the water was sometimes carried across cliff faces on hollowed out logs suspended on wooden posts inserted into holes drilled in the cliff faces.

Today, mostly steel pipes or tunnels.

A fascinating book with pictures of the maintenance workers walking on those traverses across the cliff faces is :

Au Pays des Bisses, by Auguste Vautier, Editions Ketty and Alexandre, 1063 Chapelle sur Moudon, Switzerland, originally published in 1928 and 1939 and re-issued in 1993, by an organization of the canton ( Valais/Wallis) . ISBN 2-88114-052-1

Slowpoke

5th set of photos of the BLS Südrampe Trail

6th set of photos of the BLS Südrampe Trail

I usually start at Hohtenn (where I get off the train) and stop at Ausserberg, to catch a train. From there to Brig or to Spiez and Bern.

The Hotel Sonnenhalde at Ausserberg is a pleasant place to stay, but it is a bit of a climb up from Ausserberg Station.

Here is a link to Swisstopo for the site of the hike.

map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=swisstopo&lang=e n&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo .pixelkarte-farbe&layers=ch.swisst opo.swissimage-product&X=129620.00&Y= 627620.00&zoom=6&layer s_visibility=false

Slowpoke

Great information and pictures, thanks! The images also show how much work it is to keep hiking trails like this accessible. The Bietschtal bridge is still wonderful, even without the long international trains that now use the tunnel.

<<"The images also show how much work it is to keep hiking trails like this accessible.">>

Hi Arno -

Thanks. Toward the latter part of that section where the trail follows the bisse, approaching Ausserberg, a good part of the work is also to keep the bisse functioning. So, the trail benefits from centuries of maintenance on the bisse.

We once walked some bisse trails from Haut Nendaz back in to the valley, and back out to Veysonnaz. One of the bisses on the way out was no longer maintained. Not functioning. The deterioration showed the accumulatiion of years of neglect, and it made clear just how much work would have been needed to keep it functioning.

The trail near the Luogelkin and also at both ends of the Bietchstal bridge (where there are short tunnels on the trail) runs on the roadbed of what was once a narrow gauge railway, used to bring workers and supplies in and out.

The beer garden changed hands a few years ago.

It is a lot less simple now, and the storage cave in the wall has been made into a pretty dining room. Unfortunately, the food, although perhaps with a better presentation, and still quite acceptable, is not as good. No more potato salad, and the Rösti are loaded with rather strong onions and not well cooked. I have learned to say " mit keinen Zwiebeln".

However, the most important functions - providing a cold beer on a hot day halfway along the hike in the sun, and a toilet - are still good. The sun can be very warm along that wall of the Rhonetal, which makes it a great early Spring or late Fall walk. Hot and dry in the warmer months Very little rain, hence the bisses (die Wasserleitungen) to support farming.

Slowpoke