Graubünden Haute Route (Variante)

Day 1: From Zuoz-Madulain to Chamanna Es-cha (4.6 km / 890 m ascent)

Day 2: Via Porta Es-cha and Kesch Pitschen to keschhütte (9.1 km / 1060 m ascent)

Day 3: Via P.2943 and Scalettahorn to Grialetschhütte (14.6 km / 1330 m ascent)

Day 4: Via Rothornfurgga and Schwarzhorn to Davos-Tschuggen (12.5 km / 810 m ascent)

From the train station in Madulain, depending on the snow conditions, you get on your skis after a few meters and first follow the summer path to Alp Es-cha dadour, then keep right through Val Müra to Chamanna d'Es-cha. If you had a longer journey, it makes sense to stay there.

Instead of ascending from the Chamanna d'Es-cha along the ski route to NW on the Moraine Ridge, it is advisable to take a slight detour through the small valley, keeping more to the right. This avoids the traverse of the steep slope just before the Porta d'Es-cha. The last, steep ascent to the Scharte is secured with chains, which were easy to use even despite the large amount of snow. At these you can easily climb up to the Scharte on foot. From the Porta you walk for the sake of simplicity to the Vadret da Porcabella. Like all the other glaciers on the tour, this was well snowed in, so that we could safely ride it without a rope. Even if you do not want to climb the Piz Kesch, it is worthwhile to climb up to the ski depot in good conditions. For the Piz Kesch pimples and crampons are recommended. Depending on your ability, it is advisable to secure the rock step at the summit ridge with rope, from the ski depot you drive along the ascent route back towards Porta d'Es-cha, and from there first on the right side of the glacier down towards the Kesch hut. Since we skipped the Kesch summit, we still had enough time to turn west at an altitude of about 2750 m, and easily climb about 250hm to the Kesch Pitschen. From there there are various north-facing runs. Then you have to climb again 200hm to the Kesch hut. In the modern hut there are even hot showers for 5 CHF.

Alternatively, you can also get from Zuoz with lift support via the Fuorcla Viluoch directly to the Kesch hut. Here, analogous to Porta d'Es-cha, it is necessary to overcome a short steep transition west of the Piz Viroula.

Instead of descending relatively flat from the Kesch hut through Val Tschüvel to Alp Funtauna, it makes sense to climb east to P.2943 and from there 800hm moderately steep on the north side. At Alp Funtauna you turn north and climb first moderately steep, then flatter to the Scaletta Pass. From here, the ski route leads east towards Scalettahorn. With us, the trail did not follow the ski route to the right over the glacier to the striking ridge shoulder northeast of point 3024. Instead, the trail led out of the glacier basin to the left and then traversed to the right just below the summit of the Scalettahorn. Here the harsh irons were quite useful. An easier option would be to ascend from Alp Funtauna through Vallorgia. From the Scalettahorn it goes then briefly a little steeper southeast side down to the glacier and then straight east to the 3000m high saddle south of the Piz Grialetsch. From there it is possible to climb to the summit on foot via a snow channel coming from the left. From the saddle you always drive down to the Grialetsch hut with a maximum of left hand. If you still have time and desire there, I recommend the 300hm to P.2863 south of the Chilbiritzenspitze. This very beautiful stepped northeast slope was still largely untracked on our arrival.

From the Grialetsch hut you drive to NW briefly down to the Fuorcla da Grialetsch. There we did not choose the flat detour via the Fuorcla Radönt. Instead, we drove on to Lake Furgga and climbed the wide couloir to Rothornfurgga, which was frozen hard in the morning. After this shady and up to 36° steep ascent, there is a sunny resting place on a small hill west of the saddle. From the Rothornfurgga you drive down a nice, still untracked, northern slope to the Vadret da Radönt and climb easily to the Schwarzhornfurgga. From there it goes with skis first steep, then flatter up to the beautiful viewing summit of the Schwarzhorn. This initially up to 38° steep southeast slope is probably only avalanche-proof from noon due to its frequent use. Caution: In the upper flatter part, pay attention to the sometimes immense guards. From the summit you carefully drive back to the Schwarzhornfurgga and easily always keep left to the Flüela pass. With enough momentum and clever lane selection, you can overcome them with just a little pushing. Likewise, the subsequent beautiful descent on the pass road to the parking lot Tschuggen. From there there should be a ride to Davos. Otherwise you call a taxi on 081 420 20 20. Unfortunately, the bus does not run in winter.