Lötschen Pass

Lötschenpasshütte after reconstruction, Summer 2008. In the background the east wall of the Balmhorns

K

The Lötschberg is a crossing of the Alps in Switzerland between the Kander valley in the canton of Bern and the Loetschental in the canton of Valais. A summit called Lötschberg there is not. Originally (M. 2'690 meters above sea level. ) Was Lötschenpass (also: Lötschepass ) equated with the Lötschberg. The pass leads from Gasterntal in the Bernese Oberland to the Valais Ferden and is accessible only on foot.

Lötschbergtunnel

Today with the "Lötschberg" either the Lötschberg tunnel in 1913, refers to a 14.6 km long railway tunnel from Kandersteg to Goppenstein or the Lötschberg base tunnel in 2007, a 34.6 km long railway tunnel from Frutigen to Raron. The new Lötschberg base tunnel, part of the NEAT project, lowers the peak height of the railway line from 1,240 m to 825 m. The Lötschberg railway line and its continuation through the Simplon is the second most important after the Gotthard Alpine Passage Switzerland.

The Lötschberg is also a connection ( continued through the Simplon tunnel to Demoiselle ) for the road with the car train from Kandersteg to Goppenstein through the Lötschberg tunnel.

Lötschenpass

The traditional path of ascension runs in the summer from the south through the lower Loetschental coming over Goppenstein to Wiler, of Lonza following. There, the main climb starts and leads first to Lauchernalp and on about the Lötschenpasshütte to the pass. Kander is descended on Selden into the Kander Valley, then following through Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland. In winter, the Lötschenpass the gondola via Hockenhorngrat is achievable. The Lötschenpasshütte has a warden continuously from mid-January.

Even in prehistoric times, people celebrated the pass, as finds from the Bronze and Iron Ages show. Since Roman times to the Middle Ages the Lötschenpass was next to the Gemmipass as the most important connection between the Bernese Oberland and the Valais. As a trade he had a great importance especially as an extension of coming from northern Italy Simplon route in northern Switzerland. The travelers and traders procured the countries along the ascent route locations modest prosperity.

Lötschenpasshütte

In 1519, the first hut was built on the summit of the mule track. In the 17th century Berner began to build a road over the pass. Religious conflicts between Bernese and Welshmen, however, led to a falling out and marked the end of the construction activities. Remains of the partially finished road can be seen on the north side of the pass. In the following years the only foot walk- Alps transition became less important. In the 19th century, the Swiss army established a guard at a top of the pass, which was transformed into a new passport hut after the Second World War, and gradually expanded.

Pictures

Marked trail on the glacier solder

Middle part of the glacier

Climb to the Lötschenpass from Gasterntal

Descent into Loetschental overlooking the Lötschenlücke and Langgletscher

Descent to Lauchernalp, in the background Bietschhorn

Others

On the Lake of Brienz wrong since 1914 a steamship named Lötschberg.