Lagginhorn (4010m) - Ein Traum wird wahr, mein erster 4000er [Silent Hiking]

When you start mountaineering or hiking, you always want to reach higher goals. First, it's about breaking the 2000-meter mark. Then comes the 3000-meter mark, which already requires significantly more effort. But the 4000-meter boundary is usually not an easily attainable goal. Many climbing sections, glaciers, long travel distances, high costs, and more stand in the way. However, there is one mountain that can be done with preparation and planning: the Lagginhorn in Switzerland, standing at 4010 meters. I set my sights on it so that the dream of climbing a 4000er could come true. The only remaining challenge was the journey and time planning, as I wanted to travel using public transportation. First, I took a train from Munich to Lindau after 10 PM. From there, I continued at 1 AM to Bern. So, the day of the tour was August 30, 2024. In Bern, I waited two hours for the Swiss train to Visp. In Visp, I took a bus to Saas Grund. (As far as I remember, I was at the lift station around 8 AM). To save time and energy, I took the lift, which brought me to over 3000 meters. From there, you initially have to descend a bit to head west (left) above the Weissmies Hut. The path continues uphill on a gravel trail until you have to make a sharp turn to the right. From this point on, it gets steep and tiring. Following the cairns, you keep climbing, and the path begins to feel monotonous. Later, steeper sections follow where you need to use your hands. Beforehand, I was worried about the grade II climbing section because it looked very steep on YouTube. Once I got there, I saw that it was manageable for me, so I climbed up and felt reassured. However, a different difficulty began to emerge. For context: I had prepared intensely for the Lagginhorn by climbing many 3000-meter peaks, including the Wilde Freiger and Schrankogel, both just under 3500 meters – always as day tours. But this time, since I took the lift, I didn't have enough time to acclimatize to the altitude. I started to feel the effects – it felt like my pulse was hitting my head with every beat, as if I were being struck repeatedly (exaggerated, but you get the idea). There was also a strange sense of apathy. I banged my shin against a rock, and it started bleeding slightly – didn’t care. Staying on the marked path – didn’t care. It was probably a mild case of oxygen deficiency. Shortly before the summit, there was a small snowfield or glacier??? But it was easy to bypass. With enough energy reserves, I reached the summit and was lucky to have it all to myself for about 5 minutes. The view was breathtaking, though one side was covered in clouds. Bonus info for the curious: That day, the temperature on the ground was 34°C (93°F), while at the summit it was only 4°C (39°F). After taking enough time to enjoy it, it was time to descend. I took the same route back down. The grade II climbing section was also doable on the way down, although you need to know the correct line to follow. Since I had the wrong time for the last lift down, I rushed from there. The descent continued. In the end, I “got lost” and ended up on a forestry road, which cost me more time. By that point, I had been on the move since the day before, and my water supply had run out. My plan had been to refill from mountain streams – but the water was discolored and contained particles. The next chance to get clean water would have been hours away, so I made do with a faucet at the lift station. From there, I took the bus back to Visp, where I spent a few hours on a bench waiting for the FlixBus to Lindau, which wasn’t due until 3 AM. (I think it was around 6 PM in Visp). At 8 PM, I took a train to Bern and waited at the station for several hours. On one hand, I still felt the heat from the hike; on the other, the remaining warmth of the night. At 2 AM, I traveled from Bern to the FlixBus stop (somewhere remote and obscure). From there, I took the bus to Lindau and continued by train. I arrived back in Munich around 9 AM – three days of travel, a beautiful and time-consuming adventure. In summary: It’s a very rewarding mountain tour that can be done with solid preparation and experience – but not for beginners. The views of the glacier-covered 4000ers are stunning. About the travel logistics: There are better ways to get there. For example, an ICE train from Munich or paying more to stay overnight in Switzerland. Check out the video – a picture is worth a thousand words. In upcoming videos, I’ll be showing beautiful 3000ers without glaciers. Subscribe so you don’t miss them!