A Thick And Tasty Gerschtensuppe

After slogging up that long hill, the reward is imminent as you step onto a sun terrace with a fantastic view of the Appenzell. My recommendation: The Gerschtensuppe - a wonderful, hearty soup of barley, vegetables, and meat. My favourite soup anytime I'm hiking the Swiss Alps, the one at Schaefler Huette ranks amongst the best I have ever tasted - and I grew up in Switzerland.


Here's a preview of the view you'll enjoy - although a photo can never do justice to actually being there.

Lunch And Great View At Schaefler Huette

Upon leaving Aescher, you go back up through the Wildkirchli cavern and back to the cable car station. Leaving the station, you soon see your destination - Schaefler Huette - sitting high up on a peak. Since it only takes less than 2 hours to get there, your first thought is that this distant building can't be your lunch stop.

After an easy hike along the ridge edge, you get to Chlus - which is a good spot to take a rest and brace yourself for the uphill slog. There's Schaefler, far up above you. We forced ourselves to go the ascent with no rest stops - that got the bellows pumping :-)