Bietschhorn
Looming over the Lötschental Valley, Bietschhorn stands partly in the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site. Local legend has it that an innkeeper's daughter seduced a surveyor and persuaded him to mark the height of Bietschhorn as 4003m, thereby adding it to 48 other 4000+m peaks in Switzerland. Although old maps still show this figure, more modern maps give its true height.
Metres above sea level
First climbed 13 Aug 1859 by Leslie Stephen (UK), plus guides Anton Siegen, Johann Siegen and Joseph Ebener (Swiss).
Baltschieder Hut at 2,783m can be hiked from Ausserberg and Bietschhorn Hut (2,564m) which can be hiked from Ried.
Glaciers: many, including Baltschieder Glacier
Prominence (metres)
Ried/Blatten to Bietshhhorn hut involves a 1,078m ascent and although technically unchallenging, is steep with total round trip being 4.5km. Ausserberg to Baltschieder Hut hike is 1,800m of ascent and involves foot bridges, a 2km foot tunnel and an ancient irrigation system.
The best place to admire this mountain is from the top of the Lauchernalp cable car, especially the Berghaus restaurant. You can also get a good view from the Lötschenpasshütte and the cute village of Blatten.
