The beautiful Amatschonjoch can be reached from Niggenkopf by three paths: the Gulmasteig (the steepest), the Bettlerweg through the Lorenzital (perhaps the prettiest) or the Palüdweg (also very pretty).
1 Leaving Brand on the Niggenkopfbhan, which has been modernized to double chairs since then.
2 The Gulmasteig starts underneath the lift behind the Niggenkopfbahn (1589m), but takes off and goes over the hill on the right.
3 The Gulmasteig then follows a fairly narrow ridge.
4 There are several up-and-down segments on the Gulmasteig.
5 The high point of the Gulmasteig is the Gulma (1859m) -- logically enough.
6 View of the Amatschonjoch from the woods
7 Leaving the woods
8 After the Gulmasteig, looking down on the Parpfienzalp and the path to Burs.
9 Our first year, 1980, there was snow at the Amatschonjoch.
10 Other years, the pass has been clear and green. The hardest part is often the hundred or so meters up from here to the pass itself.
11 Rest at the pass
12 Looking down on the Amatschonjoch from one side. The path on the right goes down westwards to Nenzinger Himmel.
13 Starting back down the Palüdweg
14 The first year, and some others, we went back via the charming Palüdweg, which we think is better in that direction.
15 The Palüdweg has lots of beautiful flowers, like these Gelber Enzian.
