Difficulty
K4-K5
Extremely difficult via ferrata
K4-K5
Car-free possible
Baltschiedertal / Ausserberg, VS
Baltschieder Klettersteig
High above the Baltschiedertal, this long K4-5 route follows a striking rocky rib towards Wiwannihütte. The opening and tower sections are strenuous and…
Image: Feller Egon
Current status
Unknown
No reliable current status yet
Checked 3 h ago
The approved SAC-CAS records do not provide a live opening status.
Status source TBC
Total time
8 h
Approach + via ferrata + descent
Last lift down
Check Ausserberg railway station timetable
Route map
Download GPXZoomable topographic map showing available approach, via ferrata, descent, start, finish, and parking geometry. The Download GPX link near the route map heading provides the same route geometry as a file.
Annotated route info/map available from sac-cas.ch.
Approach / VF / Descent
Segment timings and vertical stats from the current VFOS dataset.
Total: 8 h
Approach
Access- Duration
- 2 h 45 min
- Distance
- 8 km
- Ascent
- 850 m
- Descent
- TBC
- Elevation
- TBC
From Ausserberg station, follow the road towards Niwärch. Continue through the tunnel with a headlamp and into Baltschiedertal. Beyond Ze Steinu, blue markings cross meadow and scree to the gorge; the via ferrata starts on the right beside a large red mark at about 1,780 m.
Via ferrata
K4-K5- Duration
- 2 h 45 min
- Distance
- 759 m
- Ascent
- 680 m
- Descent
- TBC
- Elevation
- 2,470 m
Climb the well-protected opening walls, then cross easier grassy ground towards the distinctive tower. A long line of iron pins becomes increasingly exposed. Traverse below the tower summit, descend briefly, cross an airy gap and continue over iron aids and steep grass. The cable leads towards the height of Wiwannihütte; old snow can complicate the final traverse in spring.
Descent
Exit- Duration
- 2 h 30 min
- Distance
- 523 m
- Ascent
- TBC
- Descent
- TBC
- Elevation
- TBC
From the via ferrata exit, climb and traverse to Wiwannihütte. The mapped onward section takes about 15 minutes and gains around 60 m. From the hut, follow the normal hut trail back to Ausserberg; SAC-CAS gives about 2 hours 30 minutes for the full descent.
- Total duration
- 8 h
- Total distance
- 8.8 km
- Total ascent
- 1,530 m
- Total descent
- TBC
Escape points
No escape point details are recorded yet.
Transport
Plan around the trailhead, parking, and public transport links.
Last lift down
Check operator
Route feel
VFOS editorial ratings on a 1-5 scale.
Variety
How much the route changes in movement and terrain.
TBC TBC
Complexity
Route-finding and technical problem-solving beyond pure grade.
TBC TBC
Beauty
Scenery, setting, and overall aesthetic quality.
TBC TBC
Exposure
Airiness and exposure independent of technical difficulty.
TBC TBC
Sustained effort
How continuous or relentless the physical effort feels.
TBC TBC
Crux tags
Traverse
SAC-CAS route profile
Source ratings on the SAC-CAS 1-4 scale.
- Mountain experience
- 3/4
- Power
- 2/4
- Endurance
- 3/4
- Psyche
- 2/4
Route description
High above the Baltschiedertal, this long K4-5 route follows a striking rocky rib towards Wiwannihütte. The opening and tower sections are strenuous and…
Photos
6 source photos
Safety notes
Check current local information before setting off.
Emergency
In Switzerland, call Rega on 1414 for mountain rescue. European emergency number: 112.
Mobile signal
Cell coverage can be patchy in gorges, valleys, and behind ridges. Download route notes and tell someone your plan.
Storms
This route is flagged as exposed or high-grade; avoid thunderstorms, wet cables, and fast-changing alpine weather.
Sources & data Attribution, source priority, and field-review status for this route.
Referenced sources
- SAC-CAS approachOfficial
https://www.sac-cas.ch/en/huts-and-tours/sac-route-portal/wiwannihuette-2147000297/mountain-hiking/approach-to-the-baltschieder-via-ferrata-from-ausserberg-845/
Last scraped: 2 Aug 2026 · Official SAC-CAS Route Portal source; English source page and attribution retained.
- SAC-CAS returnOfficial
https://www.sac-cas.ch/en/huts-and-tours/sac-route-portal/wiwannihuette-2147000297/mountain-hiking/from-the-top-of-the-ferrata-to-the-wiwannihuette-846/
Last scraped: 2 Aug 2026 · Official SAC-CAS Route Portal source; English source page and attribution retained.
- SAC-CAS via ferrataOfficial
https://www.sac-cas.ch/en/huts-and-tours/sac-route-portal/wiwannihuette-2147000297/via-ferrata/baltschieder-via-ferrata-696/
Last scraped: 2 Aug 2026 · Official SAC-CAS Route Portal source; English source page and attribution retained.
Field review
No contested fields are currently flagged.
At a glance
- Location
- Baltschiedertal / Ausserberg, VS
- Elevation range
- 2,470 m
- Car-free possible
- Yes
Weather