Long tour with steep slopes at the top (avalanche danger!). Ski crampons recommended.

The Muotathal is a pretty remote paysant valley, easyly acessable from the Autobahn, exiting at Schwyz. The valley is famous for its “Wetterschmöcker”, the “weather sniffers” whocan forecast the weather months ahead applying century old weather observation methods. The not very high valley (600m-700m) offers a number of nice peaks in winter and summer. The most popular is the 2505m high Glatten, an easy peak at the very end of the Bisis Valley. Snow conditions are usually very good in the Northern slopes that get lot’s of snow.

More ambitious, steeper and longer is the Blüemberg, South of “Muotathal City”. If snow conditions allow one can skin right from the valley floor 1800m (!) on ski route 623b (here) up to the peak and then ski down again, making it one of the longest descents in the Alpine foothills. Most of the slopes are Northerly facing, so there is a good chance you find some powder.

If there is less snow, one drives up the road to Hellberg at about 1000m and start from there, heading up (and South) over Alp Ahöreli at the treeline and then the impressive rock formation of the Achslenstock (see picture below) where in good weather you are greeted by the sun. The last portion to the Blüemberg is quite steep! The orientation in the lower part of this tour is not always easy, so clear weather is preferred!

Achslenstock

The view from the top of Blüemberg is pretty spectacular, even though the peak is not very high. To ski down follow the ascent route. Note: The Blüemberg can also be reached from the Lidernen cable car (reducing the vertical to about 800m). Overall, one the longest and – if there is powder – best tours in the lower mountains of Central Switzerland.