How long does the high tour to Vrenelisgärtli take?

The tour to the Vrenelisgärtli takes two days. The first day is leisurely and the hike takes around 4 hours from the car park after Klöntalersee. The summit day starts at sunrise and takes around 4 hours to climb and 2 hours to descend.

How challenging is the high tour to Vrenelisgärtli?

The high tour is considered a less difficult high tour (WS). The glacier is gentle and has only a few crevasses and the scrambling section is secured with iron bars and chains. The connecting ridge between the Glärnisch and the Vrenelisgärtli is somewhat exposed and, depending on the conditions, you may need to stand well on your crampons.

Is there an alternative to the normal route to the Vrenelisgärtli?

A cool alternative is the Guppengrat (T6, 2200 metres) directly from Schwendi. There is also the north face route through the Chalttäli for experienced alpinists in good firn conditions.

What equipment is recommended for the high tour to Vrenelisgärtli?

For the high-altitude tour to the Vrenelisgärtli you need the normal high-altitude touring equipment with ice axe, crampons, climbing harness and helmet. We have put together a detailed packing list with packing tips compiled.

Where does the name "Vrenelisgärtli" come from and what is the legend behind it?

The Vreneli summit snowfield is striking and visible from afar. This is why the mountain is steeped in legend. We know two versions of the legend of the Vrenelisgärtli: The high-spirited Jungfrau, Vreneli, was determined to plant a flower garden on the Glärnisch. Despite the warnings, she went ahead. It was raining and snowing. She put a copper kettle on her head for protection. The climb was hard and long, but she reached the top and dug out a patch of meadow with her bare hands. But it didn't stay that way for long. It started to snow again, the flowers were quickly covered in snow, it was cold and a biting wind blew around Vreni. The cauldron continued to fill with water and snow. It became so heavy that Vreni could no longer free herself from it and was pushed to the ground by it. You can still see a small, square field of snow on the summit today. The snow field had already completely melted for the first time in 2003 and somehow no copper kettle emerged. The beautiful Vrineli lived with her father as a mighty mountain spirit on the summit of Vrenelisgärtli. The girl tended and cultivated a colourful garden. To prevent anyone from catching a glimpse of the chaste little girl, her father erected a fence of rocks around the garden. A boy learnt about the girl from the hunters of the Alps and made his way to the summit where Vrineli lived. He had to wait outside the wall for days until Vrineli let him in and hid him in the garden. The two fell in love and Vrineli hid the boy from her father. One day, however, he realised what he had done. He caught the lovers in an embrace. Hateful and angry, he threw the boy down the mountain, turned his daughter, Vrineli, into a boulder and turned the garden into a desert of snow and ice. Whoever kisses the right stone three times in love can turn the petrified Vrineli back again.

Alpine Tour Vrenelisgärtli | Glärnischmassiv

Visible from afar and surrounded by legends, the "Vrenelisgärtli" from Glärnisch.

Technics

Endurance

To the dates and registration

A magnificent tour, diverse and varied. The imposing, steeply rising walls of the Glärnisch and the wild yet populated valleys are both inviting and forbidding. Perhaps that is why these mountains are so steeped in legend and tell so many stories, some dark and terrible, others gentle and inviting. The high tour to Vrenelis Gärtli is second, gentle and inviting.

The tour leads over a gentle glacier and an easy but exposed scrambling section to the summit. The tour is a good introduction to mountaineering and includes every facet of alpinism: ascents over green forests and meadows, screey glacier forefield, ice and snow on the Glärnischfirn and a short scrambling section with a summit ridge to Vrenelisgärtli. Even Vreneli wanted to plant a flower meadow on the Glärnisch, and now the striking white summit snowfield, clearly visible from Zurich, is Vreneli's garden. We show you the high tour to the Vrenelisgärtli with lots of fun and insights. We spend the night in the Glärnischhütte, which is perfectly catered for by "Fridli"!

Tour schedule
- We meet in Klöntal. During the outward journey we already had the opportunity to take a look at our tour destination. The Schwanden ridge drops steeply on both the north and south sides. We climb up to the hut using our own muscle power. After about 1.5 hours of ascent, we reach the dwarf village of "Chäserern". The small houses in the middle of the valley have an interesting, timeless and "grumpy" appearance. After a break and with our strength restored, we tackle the final ascent, with our first destination, the Glärnischhütte, already in sight.
- After an overnight stay in the Glärnischhütte, we set off early, before sunrise. First on a path, then in pathless terrain. We cross the Glärnischfirn, past crevasses up towards the Schwanden ridge. Here we come to the bottleneck of this tour, the key section. A short climbing section, secured with iron bars and chains, leads to the Schwanden ridge. The final ascent to the summit requires a little more light scrambling, after which we reach our destination, the Vrenelisgärtli with a fantastic view, high above the Glarnerland. After some well-earned enjoyment, amazement and a rest, we climb back down into the valley. As usual, we focus on safety and the experience.
Venue & meeting point
- Vrenelisgärtli on the Glärnisch
- Overnight stay in the Glärnischhütte
Requirements
- You do not need any previous knowledge of mountaineering.
- Experience in hiking and walking in pathless terrain is an advantage.
- You need to be fit enough for hikes with around 1000 metres of ascent and descent at a leisurely pace (~300m/h).
Group size
- Takes place with up to 4-6 guests per guide.
Price and services
- Including planning and realisation with mountain guide and his travel expenses.
- Excluding travel expenses, possible train tickets, personal consumption.
- Including overnight stay in a hut and half board.
- Rental equipment: crampons, helmet, ice axe, climbing harness can be hired for this offer from the Sport Trend Shop in Hinwil can be hired at a special price of CHF 40. You can also get other mountain sports equipment there with the best advice.
Material and equipment
- We have for you a detailed packing list with packing tips compiled.
- For this tour you need the following material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us all the time. Pack only what is necessary.
- Rental equipment: crampons, helmet, ice axe, climbing harness can be hired for this offer from the Sport Trend Shop in Hinwil can be hired at a special price of CHF 40. You can also get other mountain sports equipment there with the best advice.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, preferably via the Contact form.

Impressions: Vrenelisgärtli

Questions and answers about the high tour to Vrenelisgärtli ?¿

How long does the high tour to Vrenelisgärtli take?
The tour to the Vrenelisgärtli takes two days. The first day is leisurely and the hike takes around 4 hours from the car park after Klöntalersee. The summit day starts at sunrise and takes around 4 hours to climb and 2 hours to descend.
How challenging is the high tour to Vrenelisgärtli?
The high tour is considered a less difficult high tour (WS). The glacier is gentle and has only a few crevasses and the scrambling section is secured with iron bars and chains. The connecting ridge between the Glärnisch and the Vrenelisgärtli is somewhat exposed and, depending on the conditions, you may need to stand well on your crampons.
Is there an alternative to the normal route to the Vrenelisgärtli?
A cool alternative is the Guppengrat (T6, 2200 metres) directly from Schwendi. There is also the north face route through the Chalttäli for experienced alpinists in good firn conditions.
What equipment is recommended for the high tour to Vrenelisgärtli?
For the high-altitude tour to the Vrenelisgärtli you need the normal high-altitude touring equipment with ice axe, crampons, climbing harness and helmet. We have put together a detailed packing list with packing tips compiled.
Where does the name "Vrenelisgärtli" come from and what is the legend behind it?
The Vreneli summit snowfield is striking and visible from afar. This is why the mountain is steeped in legend. We know two versions of the legend of the Vrenelisgärtli:
1. The high-spirited Jungfrau, Vreneli, was determined to plant a flower garden on the Glärnisch. Despite the warnings, she went ahead. It was raining and snowing. She put a copper kettle on her head for protection. The climb was hard and long, but she reached the top and dug out a patch of meadow with her bare hands. But it didn't stay that way for long. It started to snow again, the flowers were quickly covered in snow, it was cold and a biting wind blew around Vreni. The cauldron continued to fill with water and snow. It became so heavy that Vreni could no longer free herself from it and was pushed to the ground by it. You can still see a small, square field of snow on the summit today. The snow field had already completely melted for the first time in 2003 and somehow no copper kettle emerged.
2. The beautiful Vrineli lived with her father as a mighty mountain spirit on the summit of Vrenelisgärtli. The girl tended and cultivated a colourful garden. To prevent anyone from catching a glimpse of the chaste little girl, her father erected a fence of rocks around the garden. A boy learnt about the girl from the hunters of the Alps and made his way to the summit where Vrineli lived. He had to wait outside the wall for days until Vrineli let him in and hid him in the garden. The two fell in love and Vrineli hid the boy from her father. One day, however, he realised what he had done. He caught the lovers in an embrace. Hateful and angry, he threw the boy down the mountain, turned his daughter, Vrineli, into a boulder and turned the garden into a desert of snow and ice. Whoever kisses the right stone three times in love can turn the petrified Vrineli back again.