St. Martin - Alp Sardona - St. Martin

From 1346 to 1653, the Calfeisen Valley was home to the free Walser, who had immigrated from the Upper Valais. As in other Walser settlements, the fight against the forces of nature exceeded human strength over time. Gradually, the farmers emigrated to the Rhine Valley.

On the dirt road we walk from the small church of St. Martin above the Tamina to Hochegg. Our gaze wanders to the other side of the valley to Alp Schräa, where the hut of the Tüfwald is enthroned on a rock pulpit. The highest St. Gallen mountain at 3247 m, the Ringelspitz, can also be seen. We ascend through the shady forest to Malanseralp, which was called Alp Calfeisen by the Walsers. The shrill whistles of the marmots greet us in this magnificent alpine world. Around us we can see Heitelspitz, Sazmartinshorn, Gigerwaldspitz, Simel, organs and the Panärahorns. Our path leads us to the Malanser Obersäss, junction of the well-known Heidelpass route into the Weisstannental, then we continue over high moors to Alp Platten Obersäss. On this magnificent hill we enjoy the panoramic view of the front Calfeisental with the green-blue shimmering Gigerwald reservoir. With easy steps, we continue across colourful meadows to the Hinterer Plattenbach. Here we look north to the Heubützli Pass, which served the Walsers as a connection between the Calfeisen, Weisstannen and Sernftal valleys. Via Plättli and Chäsboden we reach the Älpli Untersäss. Our path leads us through the Sardona forest to the Sardona alpine hut. On a rocky pulpit, below the Sardona glacier, stands the SAC hut Sardona at 2157 m. We hike over the Tamina to the other side of the valley and reach the fifth alp, the Ebni. The last ascent takes us to Tüfwald, then we descend back to St. Martin.