7.20 am, Altdorf railway station
Mountain hike: Schächentaler Windgällen | Crossing the west ridge with a mountain guide
One of the most beautiful alpine mountain tours in Central Switzerland: via the exposed western ridge, we reach the Windgällen in the Schächental and enjoy varied climbing, an alpine atmosphere and a fantastic view over the Uri Alps.
Technics
Endurance
The Schächentaler Windgällen is regarded as one of the most striking mountains in Central Switzerland. Even from a distance, its impressive silhouette dominates the Uri region and catches the eye. One of the region’s most beautiful classic high-altitude routes leads to the summit via the western ridge. Thanks to the access road up to the Mettener Butzli at around 2,000 metres, we start high up in the Schächental valley. Crossing scree slopes and easy climbing sections, we reach the start of the West Ridge. This is where the real pleasure of the tour begins: exposed ridge climbing, solid limestone and an elegant route take us all the way to the highest point. The West Ridge offers impressive yet manageable climbing, which in places is reminiscent of the great ridges of the Dolomites. The difficulty is mostly Grade III, with a few sections at Grade IV. Here, you can easily use quickdraws for additional support, making these sections well within your capabilities. The mountain guide will actively accompany you, providing expert coaching and ensuring your safety through the passages. Time and again, you’ll be treated to sweeping views down into the Schächental valley and impressive vistas of the surrounding peaks of the Uri Alps. The varied climbing, the airy atmosphere and the elegant route make this tour a truly special experience. At the summit, we’ll enjoy the fantastic panoramic view stretching from the Glarus Alps across the Gotthard massif and far into the Mittelland. We’ll then descend via the standard route back to the Mettener Butzli.
Procedure and meeting place
We’ll meet in Altdorf. There, we’ll organise a carpool and drive to the starting point of our tour, Mettener Butzli.
From the Mettener Butzli car park, we set off up towards the West Ridge. Even during the approach, we’re treated to impressive views of the striking limestone walls of the Schächentaler Windgällen. Now the best part of the tour begins: we follow the elegant ridge line towards the summit via varied climbing. The solid limestone, the exposed route and the ever-widening views make the West Ridge one of the most rewarding scrambling tours in Central Switzerland. The difficulty remains mostly moderate, but requires sure-footedness, a head for heights and a love of exposed terrain. The mountain guide accompanies and belays participants through the more challenging sections.
We’ll finish the tour together back in Altdorf.
Requirements
- First experiences of scrambling in mountaineering boots.
- Climbing in difficulty level 3
- You must have a head for heights, but you will always be secured to the mountain guide’s rope.
- You’ll need to be fit enough for a day’s hike covering around 800 metres of elevation gain and lasting 8–10 hours.
Price and services
- CHF 490.-
- Rope team with 2 guests per mountain guide.
- Including professional planning and guidance with a Swiss mountain guide.
- Excluding personal travel and consumption.
Material and equipment
- For this tour you need the material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us the whole time. Only pack the essentials.
- General material and packing tips we have also put together for you.
Bergschaft tours and courses are conducted in German as standard. However, our mountain guides speak good English, as do many of the participants. If you speak English, you are of course very welcome. Depending on the tour, it may be worth asking us in advance whether the guide and the group are comfortable speaking English.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, preferably via the Contact form.
That's what our guests say:
Christian Meier
excellent professional support
Here’s how to join us on the Schächentaler Windgällen traverse:
- Friday, 7 August 2026Freie Plätze, mit 2 weiteren Buchungen ist die Durchführung gesichert.
Mountain guideCHF 490.-
As Private Tour on your desired date with your group:
As Voucher give your favourite as a gift:
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