EGGISHORN
FIESCH, VALAIS
K3Â climb
VIA FERRATA (AD) K3
PHYSICAL RATING: 2
VERTIGO RATING: 2
TECHNICAL RATING: 3
SUMMIT RATING: 4
STYLE: CLIFF > CLIMB > ALPINE
SATISFACTION: 3
STATISTICS
Departure Altitude: 2750m
Arrival Altitude: 2869m
Climb (or descent): 119m
Length: 600m
Time: 1.5 hours
SPECIAL FEATURES
Footbridge:
Monkey Bridge: 2
Beam: 2
Ladder: 0
Zip Line: 1
Net: 0
ACCESSIBILITY
Open: June to October
Parking:
By car, you can park in the village of Fiesch and take the cable car up. It is easier to take the train, as there is a service every 30 mins between Brig to Andermatt stopping at Fiesch. The cable car station is in the same building as Fiesch station and you can get the cable car straight up, changing at Fiescheralp, and then a second cable car up to Eggishorn summit station. Be aware, this second cable car gets very busy at peak times and there could be queues for it.
WHAT TO KNOW!
The Eggishorn via ferrata is a brilliant, enjoyable and spectacular course. Upon arriving at the Eggishorn summit station, turn left and follow the blue signs for the Klettersteig Eggishorn which are clearly marked. You follow a path for around 20 mins descending down the western side of the mountain before a blue sign points to "start".
​
The Via Ferrata is divided into 3 distinct sections. The first part is a traverse around the mountain without any significant altitude gain. This part is a lot of walking along a path interspersed with some cliff side metal sections. The highlight of this first parts are the 2 bridges, the first is a collection of ladders (around 30m in length) bolted together in a fairly unstable way. The 2nd is 40m wire bridge which will test your vertigo a bit. You can avoid this 2nd bridge if you wish, but it is cool. The first part of the via ferrata in my view is the weakest section of it,
​
The 2nd part is a wall climb where you gain altitude of around 120m vertically. This is a great designed part with good rung placement and spectacular views across to the Matterhorn. This is the part most like a standard via ferrata and takes you back up towards the summit again.
​
The 3rd part is a scramble across the granite boulders of the ridge. I loved this part, and for me this is the real highlight of this course. The route takes you up and down, left and right, back and forward across the rocks in a wonderful way. The designers of the via ferrata have thought brilliantly of what is needed to make you use your intelligence and follow a great route - this part is really why we love via ferrata, the chance to take a path otherwise we would not be able to do.
​
And then, after it is all over, a short boulder climb back up to the summit station. Great via ferrata, amazing scenery, not overly challenging and thoroughly enjoyable!
