Himmelrank (Stein glacier)

Beyond the Susten pass Susten road - still scenically and technically magnificent but now showing more variety of scenery - runs down in two sharp bends, offering superb close-up views of the Stein glacier and its drainage lake immediately below. It then passes through the Himmelrank gorge, with seven tunnels or arches in the rock, and takes a left-hand bend down to the Hotel Steingletscher (1,866 m/6,122ft), on the Alp Stein.

From here there is first a road (3km/2mi) to the Steinlimmi glacier (summer skiing center), and then a footpath (20 minutes) to the mighty Stein glacier, also a climb of seven hours (with guide) to the summit of the Sustenhorn (3,503 m/11,497ft: superb views).

From the Steingletscher Hotel the road descends the Wendental on the stony slopes of the Gschletterwald, through wild and rugged scenery, passing through five tunnels and under a sheer rock face, with a backward view of the Sustenhorn, of which there is a further glimpse after a left-hand bend. It then continues to wind its way down, with continually changing prospects of the Tierberge and Gewichtenhorn to the south and the precipitous walls of the Wendenstöcke and Gadmerfluh to the north. In another 5km/3mi it crosses a stream, and soon after this traverses another tunnel into a left-hand bend (turning-place), and through three more tunnels and round two bends to the Wendenwasser bridge over the stream of the same name. It then continues down the Gadmental, the valley of the Gadmer Wasser. The scenery becomes gentler, with fresh green pastureland and woods of maple and stone pine. Ahead can be seen the Wetterhorn (3,701 m/12,143ft).