Moosfluh - Breithorn
The long descent from Moosfluh past Riederalp and Greich to Mörel requires your highest concentration. In some places, short technical passages have to be traversed. In the valley basin, the route changes to the shadow-side of the Rhone, leading below Bister towards Grengiols over mostly flat terrain. The steep slope of Grengiols always raises the pulse a few notches. A mostly flat asphalt section then leads to Breithorn. And here it begins – the Stoneman Glaciara’s Alpe d’Huez. After a seemingly endless steep climb (1,450 meters of elevation gain and 14 cutbacks) up a WWII-era military road, the route reaches the Breithorn Pass, the roof of the Stoneman Glaciara (2,451 meters above sea level).
Breithorn - Binn
From here, the route takes a long descent (12 kilometers) through fields and gravel roads to Heiligkreuz – once a popular pilgrimage site. The Stoneman Glaciara continues in Binntal Landschaftspark. Over a short intermediate ascent, it approaches the village of Binn, the starting point to the village of “Im Feld” and Binntal. The original mountain villages with their old houses of dark larch wood served as lodging for the “Strahlers” (shining men) as they uncovered rare minerals.
Binn - Reckingen
The first part of the stage runs downhill on an asphalt road. The route branches off to the left to bypass a tunnel. It crosses the beautiful, narrow Twingi gorge on a fortified path. The abyss of the Binna creek lying about 200 meters below comes in and out of view. This is followed by a short, asphalted section before the Stoneman Glaciara, running above Ausserbinn, continues along a beautiful path towards Ernen. Ernen – once the ecclesiastical and cultural center of Goms – is the bearer of the Wakker Prize for its particularly well-preserved historical village center. The route now more or less follows the course of the Rhone – upstream through Mühlebach (village center with the oldest wooden houses in Switzerland) – Steinhaus – Bodmen near Blitzingen to Reckingen.
Reckingen - Bellwald
In Reckingen, the Stoneman Glaciara switches again to the sunny side of high valley. It passes many mountain villages (Gluringen, Ritzingen, Biel, Selkingen, Blitzingen) that characterize the local cultural heritage with their traditional, ancient larch houses and dense village centers. Asphalt roads lead to Niederwald. Cäsar Ritz – king of hoteliers and hotelier of kings – grew up in Niederwald. The mountain village has been preserved in its original state and unique aura. The route leaves the village with a tough ascent up to Bellwald (300 meters of elevation gain) through a fir and larch forest.
Bellwald - Märjela
Starting from Bellwald, the sun terrace of Goms with its charming, old village center, the Stoneman Glaciara runs more or less flat, switching between road, unpaved path and trail through the villages of Ried, Eggen and down to Bodmen. Next follows a local favorite trail along a glacial moraine. A wide path, interspersed with many roots, leads through a beautiful forest. It soon turns right towards Fieschertal. After a flat section though the villages of Fiesch and Lax, the first challenging ascent leads up about 1,200 meters to Fiescheralp. At the top, the route passes the cable car station and heads North towards Märjela, mostly flat at first, then briefly sloping to a tunnel entrance. This adventurous mountain route (about 1 kilometer long, cool and sparsely lit) ends directly at checkpoint Märjela.
Märjela - Moosfluh
Marjela, a truly mystical place! Along the Gratzug, where a glacial lake formed long ago, legend has it that enchanted souls came out of the ice at night. Even today, the Large Aletsch Glacier radiates a magical allure. The short walk to this spectacular view is a must. The view of hundreds of meters of ice and gaping glacial fissures commands wonder. The Aletschhorn rises high above the scene. The route begins on narrow paths along the eastern face of the Eggishorn and runs down to Fiescheralp. Careful! After a flat approach, a demanding passage follows, part of which has to be walked. Onward through an alpine landscape, following signs for Bettmeralp and Riederalp. These trails make every mountain biker’s heart beat faster. The Stoneman Glaciara leads up a last steep climb to the Blausee and on to Moosfluh, once again rewarding the effort with a unique view of the Large Aletsch Glacier.
