Everyone heading south through and over the Gotthard has to pass it: at 3073 m, it's not even particularly high, but at a dizzying 2500 m, it towers majestically over the flat valley floor of the Reuss Valley in Uri. This fact alone, in addition to its prominence, beauty of form and steepness, makes it a dream destination.
Those who venture up Bristen should sensibly do so in spring, when the snow cover is already consolidated and stable. Although you occasionally hear and read about skiing in mid-winter, this requires very precise knowledge of the conditions. The daily warming in spring requires a very early start on Bristen, which is notoriously prone to avalanches. The starting point for the "day tour" variant is the village of Bristen at 770 m in the Maderanertal or the upper end of the pressure pipes of the Amsteg power station at around 800 m near Schiltwald. You can get here comfortably by car on a forest road, bivouac and start early in the morning at 03:30. If you prefer a more leisurely pace, climb up to Bristenstäfeli at 1519 m the day before and spend the night in the cozy, unattended but perfectly equipped hut (we chose the bivouac option in Schiltwald).
Ascension
In the light of your headlamp, you follow the mountain trail with your skis on via Hagglisberg and through the steep forest of the same name to Bristenstäfeli. From here, there is usually a blanket of snow at the end of March. Continue along the summer trail over the striking ridge to Alp Blacki, 1868 m. From now on, crampons come in handy on the steep and frozen slopes of Alt Stafel up to the Bristensee plateau at around 2100 m. But the flatter interlude is short-lived: the striking N-shaped basin of the Bristen rises ever more steeply in front of you. As far as you can, you follow hairpin bend after hairpin bend until it finally becomes too steep. Working hard, you continue to gain height through up to 50° steep rocky terrain and reach the NE ridge between Rot Bristen and P. 2946 m at approx. 2850 m. After more than 2000 meters of ascent, this is not a bad place to take a short break. Continue along the exposed ridge to the pre-summit, 2946 m, where you can deposit your skis with a clear conscience. From the summit, only the legendary and complex Urinelli couloir leads straight northwest into the Reuss valley. The number of ascents can probably be counted on one hand... Even without skis on your back, the final ascent via the north ridge is no walk in the park. Some fairly exposed sections with breathtaking views down to 2400 m are a challenge once again, before it doesn't get any higher after almost 2300 meters in altitude and seven hours. The view extends straight from the wintry summit to the spring-like Reuss valley in Uri 2500 m below. And this with a horizontal distance of just four kilometers! But now the challenge is to cover almost as many vertical meters safely on the descent.
Descent
The foot descent to the ski depot at 2946 m is a little more challenging than the ascent, but then you can finally switch to ski mode! The direct entrance to the N basin below the pre-summit is blocked by a cascade of rock bars, so you can turn to the NE ridge and ski down along the ascent track, although skiing would probably initially be more like sliding down the narrow ridge.
Variant
We therefore decided against this obvious route in favor of the bypass via the W flank and NW ridge. This is extremely exposed, very steep and requires a short bootpack back onto the NW ridge. It is advantageous if you have studied the line from the NW ridge into the N basin during the ascent, as some rock bands make it difficult to find the route. On the other hand, the descent into the striking N basin from the NW ridge is another steep treat with impressive views down below. With a bit of luck, you can enjoy these exciting vertical meters in stable, settled powder. Before taking a breather on the Bristenseeli plateau, you have to climb another 500 meters over the now flattening slopes of the N basin. Via the steep slopes of Alt Stafel and Zigerblätz, which, with the right timing, are buttery smooth, it's a pleasant cruise back to Bristenstäfeli. Timing is really crucial, because if you're too late, you'll suddenly find yourself on classic avalanche slopes. From Bristenstäfeli, with a bit of luck, you can still lose a few meters in altitude on the last remnants of snow on the mountain trail. At some point, the timid flowering meadows are sure to put an end to the skiing fun and you can now enjoy not only these harbingers of spring, but above all the achievement you have just accomplished!
Summary
Difficulty (5-level scale): *****
Special dangers: very steep, avalanche-prone slopes / diurnal warming, exposure, very long and physically and mentally demanding tour!
Average and maximum steepness: 35-40° | 50°
Exposure: NE-N-NW-W
Altitude start and finish: 800m | 800m
Altitude metres uphill and downhill: 2300 m | 2300 m
Duration: 9 to 10 hours in total
Best time of year: End of March to mid-May
