Unknown Val Gierm

There is no marked hiking trail into Val Gierm; only shepherds with their animals inhabit this unknown valley at the foot of Piz Gierm.

From the car park above the Nalps reservoir, we first follow the marked hiking trail towards Cuolm Cavorgia, which we soon leave after the alpine hut Cuolm Nalps. We walk along a lively mountain stream always uphill until we reach a meadow ridge. Here we see for the first time Plauns in Val Gierm, a lush green plain with sparkling streams and ponds. We quickly leave the meadow slope to Plauns behind and take a closer look at the small lakes, whose edges are decorated with cotton grass. Very idyllic.

We continue our path southward. In front of us lies Piz Gierm with its steep slopes. The ground becomes increasingly barren until we only have stones, scree, or moss underfoot. Then we climb a grassy slope on the right. We reach a broad ridge, partially covered with grass and interspersed with rocks. Water has collected in stony hollows – anyone wishing to bathe briefly here does not need a swimsuit. With views of Tödi, Oberalpstock, and even Disentis monastery, we traverse the broad ridge with gentle ups and downs until we meet the spot where we first looked into Val Gierm. From here, we descend by the same route back to the dam.

Bring binoculars.

From the car park above the reservoir, we follow the signposts towards Cuolm Cavorgia. At about 2200 meters above sea level, we leave the hiking trail and continue through pathless but safe terrain to the lowest point of the meadow ridge. We descend to the pastures in Plauns and ascend again to the south on the left side of the stream. We encounter a large stone cairn. Shortly after, we see on the right the steep grassy slope that must be overcome to reach the broad ridge. We walk back on this until we reach the lowest point of the meadow ridge again. Then we turn left, continuing downstream on the ascent route, and descend down to the reservoir.