Fronalpstock

A night on the grassy ridge

The Fronalpstock (1922 m) is the home mountain of Stoos, a car-free village that has been served since 2017 by the steepest funicular in the world, climbing up from the valley near Schwyz. From the village station the path rises steadily over open grassy slopes and alpine pastures to the summit ridge — technically easy (T2), but with the whole panorama of central Switzerland for company. If you would rather not walk, there is a chairlift; on foot it is a good 600 metres of ascent.

At the top the view opens on every side. The Urnersee lies narrow and far below, winding between the dark ranges in the backlight, while across the valley the Grosser and Kleiner Mythen rise as a striking pair of rock peaks above the green pre-alpine country. On a clear day you can count a good dozen lakes from the ridge.

The real reason for the trip, though, is the night. Instead of riding back down in the afternoon, you stay up: the tarp on the grassy ridge, sunset over the silhouetted peaks, later a thin crescent moon above the last orange band on the horizon — and in the morning the silver backlight on Lake Lucerne, before the first funicular guests come up.

Tip: If you want more ridge, add the Stoos Ridge Trail in the morning — the airy traverse to the Klingenstock is one of the finest ridge walks in central Switzerland. There is no water up top, so carry enough.