Via Alpina, Stage 3/20

Milk from neighbouring alps is piped to Alp Siez. On Alpine pastures are followed by a narrow ridge of black slate. The terraced alp huts on the other side of the Foopass are an architectural rarity.

From the Weisstannen, Oberdorf bus stop, the hiking trail leads out of the village and soon continues up the valley between woodland and open pastures. After just over an hour, Alp Siez lies directly on the route. The ascent remains moderate as far as the area around Walabütz; beyond this point, the considerably more demanding part of the hike begins.

The mountain trail now climbs out of the forest into open, increasingly barren terrain. In long switchbacks, the route gains a large share of the approximately 1,400 metres of ascent. After just under five hours, the Foopass is reached. At 2,223 m, it marks both the highest point and the cantonal border between St. Gallen and Glarus. The Green Trail of the Via Alpina also crosses this southernmost pass accessible on foot between the two cantons.

Beyond the pass, a long descent leads towards Elm. At first, the trail crosses open alpine meadows; later, it enters the forest again and becomes a standard hiking trail. On the final section, the slopes become less steep and the first houses draw closer. After 22 kilometres and just under eight hours, the hike ends at the Elm, Station bus stop.