Albristhorn
2,763 m
Switzerland
Also known as Албристхорн, Albristhore, +1Also known as
Албристхорн · Albristhore · ალბრისტჰორნი
- Elevation
- 2,763 m
- Prominence
- 812 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: T4 (gipfelbuch.ch (long unmarked scree, technically closer to T3))
The shortest way up the highest summit of the Niesen chain: from the Tschentenalp cable car above Adelboden along the Gsürweg to the Furggi alp and the Furggeli col (2,387 m), then up the unmarked east ridge on scree and broken rock, bypassing a rock step on its north side. About 830 m of ascent from the lift.
About 0% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 2 check notes
- ascent 1554 m is 1.9× the net gain 833 m: the line probably detours down and back up (not a traverse)
- unresolved waypoints: Point 2597
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 10.2 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,554 m
- −721 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,763 m
- Time Up
- 7h 54m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 6h 47m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Take the cable car from Adelboden to Tschentenalp (1,941 m). Walk up towards the Schwandfäldspitz and follow the ridge path towards the Härdigs Höreli; at point 2,123 turn off onto the Gsürweg (blue-white), which traverses the whole Gsür flank at roughly constant height to point 2,153 and the Furggi alp (2,019 m). A white-red marked path then climbs to the Furggeli col (2,387 m), T2 to here. At the col turn left (south-west) onto the east ridge. There is no waymarking, only occasional cairns and a clear trodden track; essentially stay on the crest over scree and sometimes loose rock (T3). At about 2,600 m a rock barrier before point 2,597 is bypassed on its north side before regaining the ridge, which leads directly to the summit (2,763 m). Descend the same way to Furggi and down to Adelboden, or traverse south over the Sattligrat and the Seewlehore to the Hahnenmoospass (T4, about 6 hours for the whole traverse from Tschentenalp). In early season check for old snow on the ridge; an ice axe may be needed then, especially near the summit.
Start
Tschentenalp1,936 m
- Adelboden–Tschentenalp cable car
- Train to Frutigen, bus to Adelboden, then the Adelboden–Tschentenalp cable car (summer service).
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tschentenalp → Albristhorn | 10.2 | 1,554 | 721 | 7h 54m |
Waypoints
- Lift: Tschentenalp1,936 m
- Feature: Gsürweg2,682 m
Leave the ridge path at point 2,123 and traverse the Gsür flank
- Feature: Furggi2,089 m
- Col: Furggeli2,387 m
- Summit: Albristhorn2,763 m
Key Passages
- Unmarked east ridge above the Furggeli
- Bypass of the rock barrier before point 2,597 on the north side
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The Albristhorn (2,763 m) is the highest and southernmost summit of the Niesen chain in the Bernese Prealps, rising between Adelboden, Lenk and the Färmeltal. An unglaciated but unmarked ridge climb from the Adelboden lifts, with exposed sections on its south-west ridge.
The Albristhorn stands at the southern end of the long Niesen chain, the ridge of Prealpine summits that runs north to the Niesen above Lake Thun. It rises above three valleys: the Engstligen valley with Adelboden to the east, the Simmental around Lenk to the west, and the Färmeltal and Diemtigtal side to the north. Its prominence of more than 800 m makes it a wide viewpoint towards the Wildstrubel and the Bernese Alps.
There is no hut and no glacier. The summit is reached by ridges of scree and broken rock: the east ridge from the Furggeli, approached from the Tschentenalp cable car, is the most direct, while the long south-west ridge over the Tierberg, Seewlehore and Sattligrat links it with the Hahnenmoospass and Sillerenbühl lift areas. Neither ridge is an official, fully marked hiking trail, and short exposed sections demand sure-footedness.
The mountain is also a ski tour in winter, from the Färmeltal or the Lenk side.
Climbing Notes
A full day of alpine hiking (T3 by the east ridge, T4 by the south-west ridge), best done as a traverse using lifts at both ends: Tschentenalp–Furggeli–Albristhorn–Sattligrat–Hahnenmoospass takes about 6 hours with roughly 820 m of ascent. Above the Furggeli and along the Sattligrat there are only cairns and faint tracks, so navigation in cloud is difficult. The few hundred metres beyond the Seewlehore are exposed and unprotected; parties expecting an easy walk have turned back there. In early summer old snow lingers on the north sides of the ridges and near the summit (an ice axe can be useful), and icing is common in autumn. Check lift operating seasons in Adelboden and Lenk before planning the traverse.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Ski tour only; avalanche terrain
- Feb
- Ski tour only
- Mar
- Spring ski tours
- Apr
- Spring ski tours
- May
- Snowmelt; lifts closed
- Jun
- Old snow on the north sides of the ridges
- Aug
- Afternoon thunderstorms
- Oct
- Watch for icing; check lift seasons
- Nov
- Snow and ice on the ridges
- Dec
- Ski tour if snow is sufficient
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Adelboden; Lenk
Bern (BRN); Zurich (ZRH)
- Train to Frutigen, bus to Adelboden; cable car Adelboden–Tschentenalp, or gondola Adelboden-Oey–Sillerenbühl
- Geils–Hahnenmoos gondola from Adelboden; bus from Lenk to Büelberg
- From the north: bus to Matten (St. Stephan) for the long Färmeltal approach
Hazards
- Exposure
- Rockfall
- Weather