After a three-and-a-half-minute journey over sheer rocks, the cable car reaches the Weissenberge mountain station – and it’s a completely different world up here. The sunny southern slope above the Glarus village of Matt stretches from 1,266m above sea level to the Gulderstock (2,511m), with a scenic landscape and a scattered Walser settlement in between. From the start, the wide path leads past quaint stables and holiday homes to the Mühlemad fire pit, a good place for a rest with ample seating.

The hiking trail now passes the plain of Schiben and winds gently downhill in broad sweeps to the two mountain restaurants of Edelwyss and the Wirtschaft zum Weissenberg. Hikers, snowshoers and sledgers gather on the sun terrace to recharge their batteries as the massif of the Foostock and Fanenstock looms on the other side.

There are two options for the return journey: a comfortable gondola ride back to Matt, or a thrilling toboggan run through the Chrauchbach Gorge.