We met at 8.15 am at the train station in Brig. Nine people spread out in 3 vehicles in full corona conformity. The weather was not very inviting. We parked at the Hotel Simplonblick and put on our snowshoes. Dominic and Siebrig explained to us that due to the current snow conditions, the tour would be adapted and we would not go up or around the Stafelgrat as planned. We stayed lower, flexibility was required.

From the Simplonblick restaurant, we set off in a slight arc in the fog and reached Lake Hopschelsee from the north, heading towards the hamlet of Hopsche with its traditional stone houses on the south side of the Simplon. As soon as we reached the hamlet of Hopsche, the fog lifted and we were greeted by the first rays of sunshine. From there, Siebrig, accompanied by her dog Max, led us down the valley across the wide plain and the subsequent moderately steep slopes past the two hamlets of Blattu and Bielti in the direction of Barralhaus. We hiked around the west side of the Gampisch, following the stream on the left side of the valley.

The snow here was already much wetter and more crumbly. The hike took us through light woodland to the old bridge built by Napoleon, where we crossed the Chrumbach. We followed the old road to the hamlet of Egga. There we boarded the post bus, which took us back to our vehicles on the Simplon Pass. When we got back to the cars, we enjoyed a glass of wine to round off a wonderful day.

For Silvio and me it was the first tour with the SAC Saas, but certainly not the last!