Lā 4 Ma Valai a i Unterbäch

We leave the already now scented with sun cream and sweat minibus that leaves us in Ferden in the Lötschental south of the main ridge at 9:45.

After a short snack in the backpack, we go straight up, which means that it goes steeply uphill now, which I can confirm for the next hour. However, it is not yet "huaresteil".

So we ride relaxed with the orange carbon bike with rainbow chain of a fellow cyclist that has been creaking more and more for days up to the first climb.

At Restialp we turn off and cross the slope on a great path (see cover picture).

The landscape is still beautiful alpine, but at the same time the sky darkens against the forecast from Meteo Switzerland already around 12:00 and it starts to rain quite heavily afterwards. Thunder can be heard from a distance.

Just in time, we find a place to take shelter at Faldumalp, where we linger for about an hour eating and increasingly admiring the now emerging streams. Before the mood turns, the disturbance actually continues up the Lötschental. Since more thunderstorms are forecast for the afternoon, we make sure to make progress.

The further ascent to a kind of high plateau at about 2300m is very impressive in terms of landscape.

The following 1800m descent is just as impressive: initially very fast on single trails, the last 700 meters are rewarded with a gravel/rocky path with a great view of the Rhone Valley. Our guide jumps and does and waits occasionally as well.

After a flat tire and a drink refill in Gampel (at the very bottom), the majority of the group decides to skip the 600m climb on the paved road to Unterbäch. In the valley, it still has> 30 degrees with increased humidity.

Conclusion: First alpine stage. Highly recommended.