Category: Outdoor Sports

Transruinaulta & Transviamala

Transruinaulta & Transviamala

For three years I’ve been running the stunning trail running race through the Rhine gorge from Ilanz to Thusis, called Transruinaulta. This year, it should not only be this race but also the Transviamala run which is scheduled the day after. In total this gives 61km of distance and 2750m to climb.

It all started with a birthday present from my wife Nadine.
Last year I was already considering running both races, but as it was sold out before I managed to get a ticket, I could do Transruinaulta only. This was reason enough for her to choose a starting spot for both races in 2019 for me as present. There was no excuse anymore…

After the cross country skiing season ended this year with participating at the Engadiner Skimarathon for the first time, the focus shifted over from snow sports to running. My initial plan was to join the LGT Alpine Marathon in June to have a first tangible goal, but some injuries and as well the birth of our second kid Lara interfered with that. It’s all about setting the right priorities, isn’t it?

After a break in May and June, I focused again and spend some good time in the mountains, some runs on my own (Wägital, Fronalpstock, Top of Hasliberg, Gridone) and some with Danski (Fluebrig, Cima di Biasca).

Because the full weekend was needed for both races, we booked an apartment on a farm in Flerden, which is close to Thusis, about 10 min away by car from the start of the Viamala run. Not only it was really comfortable and well equipped, but also the host was super friendly. In addition there were a lot of toys for our son to play with, and also he could join the farmer feeding the animals. We immediately felt like at home.

At the race day, I first became nervous when I crossed the race track while driving from Flerden to Ilanz with my car, with a sign 1km to go standing there. Immediately pictures with me running through that area came to my mind, suffering but on the final 1k. How will I feel today when I’m there? I was asking myself.
In the start area in Ilanz, we met my mother in law, which was supporting my family as well over the weekend, and Soeren, a friend who forgot the space blanket at home. Fortunately, I had a spare one in my car and could help him out as this is a must have equipment to be allowed to start the race.
The race itself was going ok, I somehow wasn’t in a perfect race mood, maybe because of the second race the day after, maybe because of the left knee and heel which were slightly hurting. Nevertheless I finished it in 4h 39min, far away from my PR, but with a body that was capable to perform nice as well the day after.
One night later, the legs were still heavy… but surprisingly after around 3k of running, it was no more that much of a problem and a smooth running feeling came up again.
The first part of the race was quite ok, but I really felt that after around one hour of running, my energy buffer was empty. Unfortunately I forgot the PowerGels in our flat, so all I had was the iso offered by the race organisation. The last kilometers were tough again, as they contain a climb up from Andeer to Donat, but after that one was over, the You made it! emotions came up and after 1h 55min I almost flew into the finish area in Donat. 😃

In summary I’m quite happy with my first finish of both races at the same weekend. Overall I was ranked 43rd out of 133. Although the Viamala run is a nice track, I personally prefer the Transruinaulta part as it is somehow more personal and it does not feel that crowded. Also the part of running through the Ruinaulta is just gorgeous.
A this point a big thank you goes to my wife and my mother in law who supported me not only during the race days but also during the full year. Without their support I couldn’t have finished this. 👏

Transruinaulta race: Strava
Transviamala race: Strava
Schluchtenkönig ranking

Cima di Biasca

Cima di Biasca

What to do when there is rain only in the northern part of Switzerland and ☀️ only in Ticino? Take the train and go south!

Indeed we weren’t the only ones having this great idea, the Swiss railway was totally overloaded with the amount of sun hungry travellers. However, with one hour delay we could start our run in Biasca.

Our goal was the peak of Cima di Biasca, 2574m, with a direct and steep climb up from Biasca to the peak, via Forcarella di Lago and the north ridge. The way back should go via Capanna Cava on the northern side of Pizzo Magn back to Biasca. This gave a total of around 24km in length and 2400m up, enough to get warm legs 😉.
The climb up to the Forcarella was super nice, all the trails are super maintained! We couldn’t resist to stopped at Lago della Froda for a short break, as it was just such a nice place. There is as well a non-warded Rifugio near by where you could stay over night.
The north ridge of Cima di Biasca is easy to get, there are two slightly exposed areas that are covered with chains, but over all it was just fun going up and down there. After a break and some really delicious carb reload at the Capanna Cava, some more flowing trails took us back to Biasca. Currently, the Marroni (sweet chestnut) season is on, so close to Biasca we used the chance to fill all our empty bags with this delicacy. 😋

Overall a perfect plan B for bad weather in the north, next to the chaos in the trains. 

Start Biasca: 10:50
Cima di Biasca: 14:10
Back in Biasca: 17:10

Strava: click

Wändlispitz & Diethelm

Wändlispitz & Diethelm

As the Transruinaulta race is getting closer and Dani’s back from the North American road trip, a early after work session brought us to the far end of the Sihltal. There are plenty of parking lots available at the golf course at Ochsenboden, that’s as well were we startet our short evening adventure.

After a short part on a gravel road, a small trail brought us to the alp below Unterwand, from there on good visible, but small and exposed tracks to a leader that helps to climb the first rock. With pleasure we scrambled the following grassy but steep part up to the ridge. The next part to the peak was less steep, but covered with a awesome view down to the Sihlsee. After a short break and a high five, we continued to climb down the ridge that connects Wändlispitz with Diethelm. It’s quite exposed, but you will always find good handles. From there we followed the hiking trail up to Diethelm, were we enjoyed the view (and the adrenalin shot 😉 ). For the way down back to Ochsenboden we took the hiking trail.

Thanks Danski for the great session and the awesome pics!

Start at Ochsenboden: 16:07
Wändlispitz: 17:25
Diethelm: 18:07
Finish at Ochsenboden: 19:09
Activity (including GPX) on Strava: click

Welcome back!

Welcome back!

You might think what happened within the last 4 years? Right, I wasn’t that active anymore on this blog. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t active at all, but I shifted away a bit from mountain biking and mountaineering into road cycling and trail running. Might be the age that is causing this, or the changed family situation, who knows? For sure in the meantime I got married to my beloved Nadine and Nils, our vivid little son, was born into the world. As you can see, time management becomes more important 😀.

However, I still manage to do some sports. After finishing Zurich Marathon in 2014, I continued doing running workouts, but started combining it with my mountain passion. As a result, in 2016 I finished Jungfrau Marathon, one of the real beauties in the Swiss running schedule. In 2017, my co-worker Markus A convinced me to sign up for the Transruinaulta Trail Marathon. A beautiful and not that much crowded run through the stunning Rhine gorge. As it was yet another unforgettable experience, I signed up and finished again in 2018, 20min faster than a year before.

Next to those race activities, I had the pleasure to do some nice Trail- and Skyruns together with Danski. Not running against a clock, just for fun and having a good time. One of the highlights of the last year was the Glärnisch-Trilogie, which took us from Schwändi via Guppengrat to Vrenelisgärtli, from there to Ruchen and last but not least to Bächistock.

For this year, I plan to do some Trail runs again, and a race is as well planned, the “Schluchtenkönig” run what means Transruinaulta (42km 1800hm) and Transviamala (19km 950hm) at the same weekend. Actually, it was a birthday present from Nadine to me… so no excuse 😛. The runs I do will be as well part of the preparation for that season highlight. Follow me here if you want to be informed how it works out… 🏃

Surettahornrunde

Surettahornrunde

Ohne Zweifel hat das Skibergsteigen in den letzten Jahren massiv an Popularität gewonnen. Nichtsdestoweniger gibt es immer noch Routen, auf denen man selbst bei schönstem Wetter in absoluter Ruhe aufsteigen kann.

Eigentlich war die gute Weinflasche schon geöffnet und die Filme für eine gemütliche Filmnacht zurecht gelegt, als ich das SMS von Oli sah.

Machen morgen ne tour. Evtl Überschreitung Surettahorn von Splügen nach Sufner-Schmelzi. Interesse?

Erster Gedanke: Eigentlich nicht. 😉
Zweiter Gedanke: Schaus dir mal an.
Nach kurzem Routenstudium im Bünder Skitourenführer und auf der Karte musste ich sagen, dass dies nach einer ganz veritablen Skisafari aussah, abgesehen vom “etwas ruppigen Waldweg” runter nach Sufner-Schmelzi. Und schliesslich hatten Oli und ich noch eine Rechnung offen mit diesem Eck der Schweiz…
Nach einem kurzen Telefongespräch hiess es anstelle gemütlichem Filmabend Skitourenausrüstung packen und Wecker stellen.

Da Max ebenfalls mit dem Auto anreiste, deponierten wir sein Auto in Sufner Schmelzi und fuhren mit meinem nach Splügen zur Talstation der Bergbahnen. Mit diesen ging es hoch ins Skigebiet, wo wir mittels dem Alplistocksessellift ohne Probleme bis nach Berghus, fast auf den Splügenpass, traversieren konnten. Ab dort dann mit den Fellen bis etwas unterhalb der Traverse zum Bergseeli. Da die Schneedecke stark vom Wind bearbeitet war und es doch ordentlich steil wurde mussten wir die obersten ca. 30 hm zu Fuss machen. Erfreulicherweise war es idealer Trittschnee, was uns dazu bewog, auch die Traverse nicht unter die Skis, sondern unter die Füsse zu nehmen. Danach ging es wenig schwierig weiter bis auf den Surettapass. Während wir in den vorherigen zwei Stunden keine Menschenseele angetroffen hatten, herrschte auf dem Pass emsiges Treiben. Zu unserem Erstaunen gab es noch keine Spur aufs Surettahorn, irgendwie wollte niemand spuren… Oli war ziemlich überzeugt, dass die Traverse bei den aktuellen Verhältnissen machbar war, und auch ich hatte mir dies eigentlich gedacht. Doch wenn man direkt vor dieser mächtig eingeschneiten, steilen Wand steht, überlegt man doch gerne nochmals. Nachdem Oli ein Schneeprofil erstellt hatte und eine 1.8m mächtige, solide Schneedecke vorfand, gings für uns beide los. Die ganze Wand präsentierte sich in idealem Trittschnee. Oli spurte ziemlich in der Diretissima auf den Gipfel zu, und ich folgte ihm gerne. Auf dem Gipfel angekommen, mussten wir leider feststellen, dass wir nicht die ersten auf dem Gipfel waren, 5 Italiener waren kurz vor uns vom Süden kommend ebenfalls schon auf dem Gipfel, inklusive Skis.
Nach einem kurzen Zwipf und dem Fussabstieg gings los mit der Abfahrt. Zwei Spuren waren bereits vorhanden, der restliche Platz gehörte uns :). Etwas Pulverschnee auf einer harten Unterlage; ganz ok, um gemütlich runter zu cruisen. Und dann kam der ruppige Wald… da hatte uns der Führer nicht zu wenig versprochen. Aber mit etwas Durchhaltewille konnte man fast alles abfahren/rutschen.

Fazit: Eine sehr schöne Rundtour, die zumindest zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt überhaupt nicht überlaufen ist.