Insider tip no. 2 Reloaded: Säntis descent

A detailed experience report of the Säntis descent from Appenzeller Gurt in April 2018 with information, maps and current pictures.

Tour: Early in the morning with the post bus to Schwägalp and the cable car to Säntis - refreshment in the Panorama Restaurant - descent to Seelalpsee as far as possible - lunch in Seealpsee - descent to Wasserauen with skis/snowboard on the back - home with the Appenzeller Bahn.

Weather and avalanche situation: Be sure to check the snow, avalanche situation and weather to avoid any unpleasant surprises. In spring, the risk of wet snow avalanches increases during the day. In difficult entry or weather conditions and from level 3 (considerable) of the avalanche bulletin, no skiers will be transported by aerial tramway.

Further descents
- from Stütze 2 to Toggenburg
- from the Säntis summit to Brülisau with two intermediate ascents; to the Bötzelsattel (approx. 1 hour) and with a small ascent to the Widderalpsattel
- from the Säntis summit over the Rotsteinpass to Toggenburg with an ascent of approx. 1 1/2 hours from Meglisalp to the Rotsteinpass.

Level of difficulty: The descents from Säntis are neither marked nor prepared and are not controlled. They are therefore reserved for experienced skiers.

Take along: Ski or snowboard equipment, helmet, backpack (if possible with attachment for board), lunch for the road, avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel. Short pants and running shoes for part 2.

IT'S GOING!

Wednesday morning, 8.30, Schwägalp, we are ready for the Säntis - the obligatory end of the season. Over the info phone 071 365 66 66 we learned that skiers and snowboarders are allowed up until 10.30 - avalanche danger weak to moderate.

The Schwägalp has been heavily upgraded in recent years, a huge hotel block including restaurant with terrace for 10 cars. We are not alone on this bright spring day, about 25 other tourers and 3 lost tourists are on the train. On the Säntis the panorama is breathtaking as always:

The "Alte Säntis" is unfortunately still closed, so we have coffee and croissants in the Panorama Restaurant. We almost let ourselves be talked into brunch, but we have to go on. We strap on our boards and switch on the beeper. The first slope is still a bit hard at 9.30, partly slushy. We traverse to the right side, a bit scary just above the avalanche cone that came down in the last days. Descent unproblematic to pleasant, partly a bit firmly ribbed.

THE WAGON GAP

After the entry slope goes left down to the Wagenlücke. There the board must be unstrapped briefly, even after this winter of the century. The entrance to the north slope after the Wagenlücke is a bit icy. With a little skill, however, you are quickly through.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE MESMER

Now you have to decide which of the three chimneys on the Mesmer should be taken. This is the most critical and steepest part of the whole descent, an icy gap is no walk in the park. We choose the middle chimney, which turns out to be a good choice: The sun has made the steepest part of the descent slushy, but the grip is still there.

AM MESMER

The long traverse is icy and a nightmare for every snowboarder (hello Wädli). However, the slope is easily traversable. The snow depth is still quite impressive, around the closed Messmer (again!) two meter high snow mountains pile up. We are on the road early this year.

INTO SPRING

The last part of the descent is again in good shape, even if there is rockfall and soil on the snow from time to time. There is a lot of snow in the cone, which is still good enough for a few weeks.

The snow is good and we make pretty good progress. But at some point we can't go any further - part 1 of the Säntis descent is finished.

BACK TO REALITY

The last part to Wasserauen is made for the thighs. With a gradient of approx. 50% it goes down to Wasserauen for approx. 50 minutes. The Appenzeller Bahnen are revising the tracks, but buses run almost every half hour in the direction of Appenzell and St. Gallen.