On foot · Upper Valais · September 2026
From Visperterminen to the Simplon in one go
On a yellow signpost near the Gibidumsee: "Simplon Dorf 6:10". Christian isn't one to let that kind of idea slide. Alarm at 3:45 am.
- Date
- September 2026
- Distance
- 21.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,004 m
- Walking time
- 7 h 39 min
- Descent
- 1,456 m
The route · indicative
Morning
Bus, train, chairlift
Car left in Simplon-Dorf, first PostBus with the teenagers going down to school in Brig, train to Visp, bus to Visperterminen and the little chairlift with its flower pots. At nine we start the traverse.
The Gibidumsee like a mirror, then a long, very long and beautiful path along a bisse to the head of the valley, with a glacier and a mineral world as a backdrop. The red of the bilberries heralds autumn.
Afternoon
Choosing the cliffs
The first pass goes smoothly, the descent is grassy. But the second looks one hundred percent scree, and even the crystal-blue lake can't draw the eye away from what lies ahead. Fatal mistake: checking the track on the phone.
At a junction of T4-graded paths, the variant dropping to the Simplon Pass feels more reassuring. Then the hillside traverse to Simplon-Dorf. Twenty-two kilometres, lots of stones, a good dose of apprehension and very beautiful landscapes.
