Hiking in the Montafonertal

G3VGR

Hiking in Montafon

This area of the Vorarlberg isn't too well known to British Summer visitors. The Montafon valley is enclosed by 3 alpine ranges: the Rätikon, Silvretta and Verwall groups. These ranges provide many hiking trails, catering for all levels of experience, so if daunted by the signs that read "Trittsicherheit und Schwindelfreiheit erforderlich", it's always possible to find an easier trail to hike My first visit to the Montafon Valley was in June 2004, prior to attending the Hamradio rally at Friedrichshafen. I took a tent and camped at Schruns, the main village of the valley. Since my first visit, I've returned to the area 4 more times, staying in Bludenz and will be returning again in 2012, as this area contains everything that makes an enjoyable holiday.

Bludenz, the home of the Fohrenburger Brewery and Milka chocolate factory, is well situated at the meeting point of 5 different valleys: the Montafon, Klostertal, Brandnertal,Walgau and Groß Walsertal. Each of these valleys is unique and all are served by excellent public transport links. The Montafon has a few smaller side valleys, all reachable by bus services from Schruns, the central town of the Montafon. I always purchase the Montafon-Silvretta card, which not only provides free travel on buses and trains and free use of all cablecars and chairlifts in the Montafon, but also in other valleys in the area, including some of the Tirol.

My visits have been made either in late June or the beginning of September. Both times have their advantages. In June, many alpine flowers are in bloom and there is plenty of snow above 2100 metres, so an ice axe is an obligatory accessory. I've found the weather at this time to be rather unsettled, with many rainy and cold days. The locals recommended late August and September. This was good advice as I've enjoyed a succession of warm sunny days at that time. Also, the higher mountain huts are open and accessible as the snows have long gone.

There are many excellent and varied walks in the area and by using the Montafon-Silvretta card, one can sample the delights of the different valleys. I normally make day hikes from my campsite, but have occasionally stayed overnight in some of the mountain huts, which is a great experience. Usually, my walks are planned so that I can take lunch at one of the mountain huts or preferably an "Alpe" which is a small alpine dairy. The Alpen in Montafon produce "Sura Kees", a local speciality cheese and is delicious when accompanied by fresh milk from the dairy. The Alpen close down for the Winter around the second week in September, when the cows are moved down from the high pastures.

To plan walks, I would recommend the following publications:

Of course, the local tourist offices will also mail plenty of useful publications to help. The railway stations at Schruns and Bludenz provide combined bus and train timetables, which simplifies navigation around the area.

Some of my favourite hikes:

From Malbun in Liechtenstein, over the Sareiserjoch to Nenzinger Himmel, a pretty, serene village in the Gamperdonatal. After a detour up the valley to view the Stüba waterfall, I hike up over the Amantschonjoch to Brand
A high route from the Nova Stoba bergstation along the Matschuner Gratweg over Versettla (2372m) & Madrisella (2466m) to the Matschuner Joch (2425m). Then a steep 700m descent down from Heimbühel to the Vergaldnertal. After stoppping at the Vergaldner Alpe for Sura Kees and fresh milk, continuing down the valley to Gargellen
From the Lünersee, along the Schweitzertor Weg, passing over the Verajoch to the Schweitzer Tor. I continue along the Rätikon Höhenweg, over the Ofapass and down to the Lindauer Hütte, passing the impressive Drusenfluh & Drei Türme. The walk ends with a stroll down the Gauertal to Latschau, not forgetting to stop at the Gauertal Haus for the best Apfelstrudel in the region. This is always my last walk and the view back up the valley to the Drei Türme is a sight that makes me want to return next year.

Toblersee and Montafoner Tal	Wiesbadener Hütte
In front of the Ochsentaler Glacier	View from the fearsome Bilkengrat
View to Switzerland through Schweitzertor	View to Zimba from the Lünerkrinne
Executive meeting in Zaluandatal - Zimba behind	Old Customs House along Rätikon Höhenweg
Totalp Hütte	Enjoying a Fohrenburger beer at the Lindauer Hütte
The Alvierbach in Brandnertal	View of the Drei Türme from Latschätzer Hohenweg
Descent to Lünersee from Totalp Hütte	River Litz in Silbertal
View towards Rätikon with cloud cover over Silbertal	Lünersee, Douglashütte and Seekopf
View down the Ochsental towards Silvretta-Stausee	Grazing the sweet grass in front of Zimba
Kochscher Enzian (Gentiana acaulis)	Gold-Pippau (Crepis Aurea) in June
Formarinsee in Klostertal	Silbertal, a very pretty village
Vermunt, HochMaderer and Madlener House from Bielerhühe	Wiegensee above Partenen
Garneratal from Tübinger Hütte	These ladies in the Vergaldnertal produce Sura Kees
Nenzigasttal, a side valley of the Klostertal	The Latschätzer Hohenweg towards the Lindauer Hütte
Cloud cover over Klostertal	Litzner Glacier near Saarbrückner Hütte
Schruns, Tschagguns, Monterfonertal and the Rätikon	View down Kromertal towards Vermunt Stausee
Through the Bürserschlucht, Brandnertal	Nenzinger Himmel in the beautiful Gamperdonatal

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