Unknown Val Gierm

There is no marked hiking trail into Val Gierm; only shepherds with their animals inhabit this unknown valley at the foot of Piz Gierm.

From the car park above the Nalps reservoir, we first follow the marked hiking trail towards Cuolm Cavorgia, which we soon leave after the alpine hut Cuolm Nalps. We walk along a lively mountain stream always uphill until we reach a meadow ridge. Here we see for the first time Plauns in Val Gierm, a lush green plain with sparkling streams and ponds. We quickly leave the meadow slope to Plauns behind and take a closer look at the small lakes, whose edges are decorated with cotton grass. Very idyllic.

We continue our path southward. In front of us lies Piz Gierm with its steep slopes. The ground becomes increasingly barren until we only have stones, scree, or moss underfoot. Then we climb a grassy slope on the right. We reach a broad ridge, partially covered with grass and interspersed with rocks. Water has collected in stony hollows – anyone wishing to bathe briefly here does not need a swimsuit. With views of Tödi, Oberalpstock, and even Disentis monastery, we traverse the broad ridge with gentle ups and downs until we meet the spot where we first looked into Val Gierm. From here, we descend by the same route back to the dam.