Gemmi Pass

The Gemmi is probably the most spectacular of all the Swiss Rough-Stuff routes. At Leukerbad the road ends, and a good path ascends this cliff. This is a remarkable piece of mule-track engineering with numerous zig-zags, and often the path is cut out of the cliff itself. It is rather like a spiral staircase; sometimes one bit of path almost overhangs the path below. Wheeling is just possible throughout, but obviously one needs a good head for heights!

More recently some parts, especially higher up, have been concreted with some large steps having been put into place. The gradient is mostly 1 in 3 or 1 in 4. The path is reasonably safe, and there are occasional bits of wooden handrail and some steel cable in the more dangerous spots.

Not advisable to attempt this route from Kandersteg to Leukerbad. Riding down the cliff would be far too dangerous, and walking down with a bike almost unthinkable!

DO NOT attempt the route if there is any likelihood of snow and preferably not even when the path is likely to be wet.

During the climb, the marvellous panorama of the Valais peaks steadily widens. There is a large hotel at the top (marked in the photo at the top with a small black arrow) and usually many tourists, as a cable car also ascends the cliff from Leukerbad.

A good wide path, nearly always rideable, and of easy gradients leads from the top, past the shallow Daubensee, for about 9km, till a fantastic view opens up to the east. 500m below is the Gasterntal, with a grand array of peaks at its head.

Here is the top of a cable car coming up from Eggen, above Kandersteg. The path immediately begins a headlong 750m descent with many zig-zags. The surface is very good and most of the descent can be ridden with extreme caution! It is mostly 1 in 4.