Two day trip to Cufercalhütte

The summer hiking trail faces south and is therefore almost snow-free. With our snowshoes strapped to our packs, we can make quick progress. There is even a hint of sunshine, giving us a lovely view of the village of Sufers and the partially frozen reservoir. Above the tree line, we can strap the snowshoes back on and the backpacks immediately feel lighter again.

We use the wooden, covered balcony of a snowed-in house to have lunch out of the wind. Below the cloud layer, visibility remains fairly good, which is helpful for assessing the terrain and navigating smoothly. After that, the wind starts to pick up more and more. Well wrapped up, we literally move from one wooden hut to the next, waiting for each other. This is not weather to stand still for long. We also need to stay close together, as visibility has now deteriorated sharply.

My handheld GPS device is our beacon—much more practical with buttons than a smartphone in these conditions. At last, we reach the hut, and fortunately the key box opens easily so we can get inside quickly. The kitchen is just big enough for the six of us, and the stove is fired up until the room becomes wonderfully warm.

At 5 p.m., the forecast and bulletins for the next day appear. Despite the announced fresh snowfall, the avalanche danger is expected to remain at level 2. When I step outside in the morning to scoop up fresh snow to melt, I see it immediately. A new avalanche bulletin confirms my suspicion. Far more snow has fallen than expected, and the risk has risen to level 3. All slopes steeper than 35° must be avoided. There is one section of the descent that therefore becomes more hazardous; otherwise, we remain outside the danger zone because the terrain is not steep. When choosing this route, I had this in mind as well.

All aspects are shaded in black on the map, and we quickly understand why. With every step we take, we sink knee-deep into the snow. It’s truly a slog to get through. Even descending requires a lot of energy. 

Thanks to the heavy dump of snow, we can keep our snowshoes on all the way down to Andeer at 1,000 meters of elevation!