Post 9 - A Unique Day Hike to the Glarnischhutte SAC Base Camp

The Takeaway:

• The Glarnischhutte, a Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) hut, is perched high above a remote valley in Central Switzerland at 1,991 meters in Canton Glarus.

• Who is this for? Hikers with solid fitness seeking an all-day hike away from the crowds in a verdant mountain valley.

• The trail is safe, secured with ropes and chains, and well-marked.

• This hike gets a 10/10 - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating.

I recently learned that the Glarnischhutte in Canton Glarus had closed for extensive renovations. Instead of closing up shop for the summer, the innovative hut wardens decided to partner with outdoor gear company Exped (https://www.exped.com/en/homepage) to set up a base camp next to the hut like you would find below Mt. Everest. This seemed super cool, so the gang and I decided to pay it a visit.

After being stuck driving 3 miles per hour behind a herd of cows for 30 minutes on the narrow Pragelpass, we made our way towards the remote and beautiful Klontalersee to begin our adventure.

We parked in Platz (852m) and began our hike. An interesting aspect of this hike is that the trail begins quite far from the parking area, so the first part of the hike is really a walk along mostly deserted country roads. After following the river, we passed through a gate beyond which only the locals are allowed to drive.

The road climbed steeply upward past Chlustalden (1,062m), weaving in and out of the forest and along the river. Cows and goats happily grazed alongside the riverbanks, as the running water created the perfect soundtrack.

Reaching the tiny, mostly deserted hamlet of Chaseren (1,270m), we made our way between tiny vacation cottages, many adorned with well-maintained gardens. The lone restaurant was closed, so no stopping here for a drink or snack.

Finally, at the even smaller hamlet of Warben (1,385m), we reached the trailhead. I should note here that some might be turned off by the 1+ hour walk from the parking lot to the trailhead. But despite the road walking, I think this hike is still worth it. One idea to make this first part a bit more palatable is to ride a mountain bike up to and down from the trailhead. The silver lining to this aspect of the hike is that the relative difficultly of getting to the trailhead almost guarantees that you’re unlikely to see too many people. Those seeking solitude should give serious consideration to this hike.

From Werben, all traces of civilization quickly fell away. The views ahead of us were outstanding, with wildflowers carpeting the foreground and several waterfalls pounding away in the distance.

After ascending a number of switchbacks, we reached a fun section that required a bit of light scrambling. This section was well-secured with ropes and chains, so we safely scampered up the rock ledges. My understanding is that this one short section increases the hiking grade from T2 to T3, but apart from this one section, it is otherwise all T2. See my prior post for an explanation of the Swiss Alpine Club’s Alpine Hiking Grade Scale: https://hikingswitzerland.beehiiv.com/p/quick-post-hiking-tips.

Now up above the waterfalls, the trail leveled out with amazing views back down the valley and up to our destination. This mostly flat section of the trail would be perfect for trail running. However, with kiddos along, there was less trail running and more gentle cajoling to “keep going!” and that we were “almost there.”

The trail eventually split off, with the path toward the hut again rising steeply with more switchbacks (the kids were thrilled). Thankfully, midway up the switchbacks, the hut and base camp came into view, adding some pep to the kiddos’ steps.

Now finished with the switchbacks, we reached the hut which was clearly still under construction. The workers were busy unloading load after load of cement brought in by helicopter. Pretty sweet views for those construction workers! My understanding is that the renovations will expand and modernize the hut, and upgrade its water system.

On a grassy ridge next to the hut, we finally reached the base camp after about 3 hours of walking/hiking. Modeled after the types of base camps you might find in the Himalaya (though on a smaller scale), the camp had several 2-person tents, larger communal tents for cooking and eating, and 3 amazingly clean porta-potties! Those staying at the base camp could look forward to cold drinks and hot food courtesy of the regular deliveries via helicopter, and could take advantage of the alpine tours offered by the Alpinschule Glarnerland.

For those interested in visiting, consider going soon. The base camp is only temporary for the 2023 season, so before heading out, check the base camp’s website for more details: https://www.basecampglaernisch.ch/. For those making the trip to the hut after 2023, check out the hut’s website (https://www.glhuette.ch/) or the SAC website for the hut (https://www.sac-cas.ch/de/huetten-und-touren/sac-tourenportal/glaernischhuette-sac-2147000116/) for more info.

After several cold beverages, we headed back down, retracing our steps on the long hike back to the car. After another 3 hours of hiking and walking, we reached the car, tired but satisfied.

This hike was a ton of fun and greatly enjoyed by the whole family. I give this hike a 10/10 rating, even considering how far the trailhead was from the parking lot. I recommend this trip to anyone with descent fitness who is seeking a long, secluded day in the alps.

Happy hiking!

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STANDARD SAFETY DISCLAIMER - As with any hike, it is important to consider your personal skill level and gear, including safety items, and remember to check the weather forecast. For safety items, consider bringing cash and a credit card, a cell phone, a small headlamp, foul/cold weather gear, an emergency blanket and whistle, plenty of food and especially water, a knife, sunscreen, and a first aid kit. You may never need most of these items, but you will be happy to have them if you do!! For weather, I recommend the MeteoSwiss app. Finally, prior to any tour to a SAC hut, you can also consider calling ahead to the hut warden to ask for info on hiking conditions. A little planning goes a long way towards making your trip a successful one.

One final note on safety - it is important to be honest with yourself and those in your group when it comes to your experience, fitness level, and the conditions. Hiking is not like going to Disney World - it has real risks. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Everyone has to assess and assume the risks for themselves. I also recommend becoming a Rega patron if you hike in Switzerland. Rega provides emergency medical rescue services if at all possible for a small annual donation. Rega can be reached by dialing 1414 or via the Rega app. More info on Rega can be found here: https://www.rega.ch/en/