As the little brother of the well-known freeride ski area on the Titlis, the Brunnibahn in Engelberg also offers some interesting downhill options and definitely less crowds. When the slopes in the shadowy area around the Trübsee have long since been groomed, you can still find the odd patch of untracked powder snow on the "sunny side of Engelberg". Among other things, the variants with the ascent towards Rigidalstock and the west-facing descent through Ober Stoffelberg are popular. If you like it a little more alpine and are not afraid of a via ferrata passage with skis on your backpack, then you should take the 700 meters of ascent to this summit into account, because the descent has it all.
First of all, the ascent is physically demanding, although the additional help of the Brunnibahn and subsequent chairlift means you have already gained a lot. If you're lucky, the platter lift to Schonegg is also still running (in spring usually only from 10 a.m. or not at all) and you save another 200 meters of ascent. Otherwise, these are well suited as a warm-up for the remaining 300 vertical meters to the via ferrata. The latter are quite steep, still frozen in spring in the morning and challenging to walk on; if you don't have crampons with you, you may have to strap on your crampons before the actual start of the via ferrata and hope that the snow cover is sufficiently stable. The via ferrata has a key section right at the start (grade III climbing section) and is easier to climb as it progresses.
Only the vertical slab at the exit requires a little more climbing ability, but is equipped with steel bars. The two key points may not be equipped with steel ropes in winter (they were in March 2012) and a 25 to 30 meter rope (or cord) is mandatory for safety. Depending on the snow situation, you may have to cross one or two south-facing snowfields and should get past these sections in good time before the snow warms up too much. In addition to the basic avalanche transceiver equipment, you should be equipped with crampons, ice axe, crampons, rope, belay device and carabiner for the ascent.
On reaching the summit, you can either continue along the ridge to Gross Walenstock (2572 m) (a challenging alpine undertaking) or descend or ski briefly and cross the Vogelsmatt slope as high as possible to the north. This slope is very prone to avalanches in spring due to its steepness and exposure (W to S). The descent offers everything a skier's heart desires: wide, gentle slopes, steep rocky terrain, a narrow gully and phenomenal views down into the valley of the Engelberger Aa as far as Stans and Lake Lucerne.
Tour description
The starting point of the tour is the SAC Brunnihütte (1860 m). Via Schonegg you climb with your skins through partly steep terrain to the start of the via ferrata (below Pkt 2401) and overcome the last 210 vertical meters with your skis on your backpack. Depending on the snow conditions, you can descend or climb approx. 50 meters westwards from the summit and cross the Vogelsmatt slope to the north. You should reach the ridge between Vogelsmatt and Gross Walenchälen as high up as possible so that you can decide here whether it is possible to enter the Walenchälen (no problem if there is enough snow) or whether to ski on or below the ridge up to point 2334 and only then traverse into the gully (only feasible in absolutely safe conditions!). From here, the gully quickly becomes narrower and steeper (5 m wide and 42 to 45° steep) before it widens again in the Gross Chälen and becomes somewhat flatter. At the end of the Chälen, choose a steep snow band (approx. 42°) to the left as an exit and descend through gentle terrain to Walenalp. You now have to climb a few meters to the cross (1675 m).
The road then takes you to the meadow slopes at Wand (approx. 1600 m), where you have to turn back onto the road towards Schwand from point 1269. Pay attention to wildlife protection here and do not descend through the forest. The meadow slopes of Schwand invite you to ski the last 200 vertical meters, provided there is still enough snow. At the start of the Studentenweg towards Grünenwald (approx. 990 m) there is usually not enough snow left and you descend the last 100 meters on foot to the road to Engelberg. Tip: Park a car here beforehand and save an hour's walk back to Engelberg.
Information
Difficulty (5-level scale): *****
Special dangers: Via ferrata, traverse through avalanche-prone slope.
Average steepness/Maximum steepness: less than 30°/ 45°
Exposure: Gross Walenchälen NW, Walenalp to Grünenwald W
Altitude difference start and finish: Brunnihütte 1860 m | Grünenwald 990 m
Altitude metres uphill and downhill: 730 m, 1600 m
Duration: 4-7 hrs. Time indicated from Brunnihütte
Best time of year: January to April
Accommodation:SAC Brunnihütte
Addresses:Bergbahnen Brunni, Tourism Association Engelberg, Mountain guide Remo Baltermia
How to get there: Engelberg can be reached from Lucerne by S-Bahn. By car, it takes about 1.5 hours from Zurich.
Topographical maps: Swisstopo Stans (245 S), 1:50'000; Melchtal (1190) and Engelberg (1191), 1:25'000
