In the valley
Take a trip with us (in your mind) from Bludenz to the Arlberg Pass – by car or by train:
A ride through the Klostertal - into the valley
By car
Our ride through the Klostertal leads us from west to east, south is on the right and north is on the left. It is almost like a geological journey through several million years of the earth’s history.
As soon as we have left Bludenz, the southern flank of the Klostertal Alps presents itself to the north with the mighty peaks Gamsfreiheit and Weißes Rössle. The dominant peak, however, is the Roggelskopf. It towers like an autocrat.
Karl Blodig recorded his impression in 1905 as follows:
When we travel from the shores of Lake Constance to the Arlberg, after a short drive through the inner Walgau, we notice a steep, beautifully shaped rock pyramid, which rises behind Bludenz to the left of the Arlberg railroad, completely isolated. The striking elevation, which forms one of the most outstanding phenomena in the panorama of all the heights of the western Ferwallgruppe, accompanies us as far as Dalaas.
Geologically, this is very interesting: one can follow the stratification running parallel to the valley in the main dolomite from Bludenz to Dalaas.
This is the sedimentary stratification, but at the same time we recognize the mountain building. The crystalline basement in the east, towards Arlberg, can be recognized by a V-cut between Roggelskopf (2284 m) in the north and Schwarzhorn (1883 m) in the south. Here, between Innerbraz and Dalaas, there is a clear narrowing of the valley over a length of approx. 1.5 km. From about Schmiedtobel the valley opens up again.
Until just before Dalaas, we are under the spell of the Fallbachwand on the right.
In front of us on the right talc flank we can already recognize milder mountain shapes from Dalaas on. It is already the crystalline basement of the Northern Limestone Alps around the crystalline of the Silvretta Crystalline. Far ahead we can see the Burtschakopf. This peak already belongs to the Silvretta Crystalline.
In Dalaas, to the south, a little after Kristbergsaal, there is a huge landslide with a very characteristic shape. Before we leave Dalaas, we drive over a strange little hump. This is a natural debris cone of the Klemmetobel. Road construction has adapted here. In the south, the slopes are heavily forested. In the north, the northern alpine character of the Klostertal Alps is striking.
After Wald am Arlberg, the valley opens up again and Außer- and Innerwald show a different, more extensive settlement pattern.
From Wald, the second dominant peak of the Klostertal valley, the Burtschakopf, 2244 m, suddenly appears in the south. It accompanies us like a sentinel all the way to Klösterle. In Wald we pass from west to east through the Murschutt alluvial cones of the Radonatobel, Stelzistobel, Glongtobel and at the Spullersee power station in Innerwald of the Spreubach. The Kaltenberghütte is clearly visible in front of us high above. In good conditions, the view from the Kaltenberghütte is possible all the way to Lake Constance.
After Klösterle-Danöfen, we pass the Wilden slope bridge, whose lines have been harmoniously adapted to the terrain to the south. Suddenly we recognize Klösterle in front of us on the valley floor with its red church tower.
The complicated folds in the limestones and dolomites of the Schnauzlberg and the Blisadona north of Klösterle do not escape our attention. In the center of the village, the Wäldletobel Bridge draws the eye. The debris cone of the Großtobel east of Klösterle can be seen from a distance.
After Langen am Arlberg we drive over the Murschutt and rock fall cone of the Großtobel. In Langen, the sights are located in a very small area. A tour from the station is worthwhile.
Between Langen and Stuben we are under the spell of the high alpine peaks of the Klostertal Alps and the Flexenstraße. The Arlberg also announces itself with the limestone and crystalline peaks.
In the direction of Arlberg it becomes steep from Stuben. After 5 hairpin bends from the Posteck we get the full view over the Arlberg to the east. The critical and very beautiful piece of road is located between Stuben and Rauz . Here we drive a short distance past the limestone rocks of the Lechtal Alps. From Rauz we are in the crystalline rocks of decay until the top of the pass.
Just east of Rauz, a quarry was created during the construction of the Arlberg road tunnel. This quarry has exposed glacial striations due to quarrying and removal of moraine material, which are very visible when driving slowly.
At the pass we encounter steep crystalline gneisses and can see the eastern peaks of the decay.
By train
This trip from west to east up the Arlberg is different from the one just mentioned. A different perspective and also the slower ride play a role.
First we enjoy the view of the Montafon. The Lorüns quarry seems to be larger. In the distance we can again see the Tschaguns Mittagspitze (2168 m). The backdrop of the Gamsfreiheit with the Roggelskopf – the apparent guardian of the Klostertal – have a different and more powerful effect on us than before. We are still near the valley floor and the chapel of Bings is within reach.
The Mura debris, alluvial cones have changed their appearance when going uphill. We drive up at a slower speed. Suddenly, a peculiar geographical and geological picture appears. Through an acute-angled V-cut of Roggelskopf to the north, Davenna to the south (both limestone-alpine rocks), we recognize the crystalline slopes Mutjöchle-Mittagstein south of Dalaas in the east in front of us.
The relatively mild shape, uniformity and dense forestation differ from rocks of the Limestone Alps. The closer we approach, the more this angle opens up and we have the crystalline slopes of the Verwall in front of us, where the Kristbergsattel with 1846 m altitude is located south of Dalaas.
Also during the ascent, it is noticeable in which steep valley flank the railroad line is carved. The danger and wildness of the ravines below us is obvious.
We leave again the steep walls of the Davenna with the summit cross at 1881m. Suddenly the church of St. Oswald of Dalaas emerges again. The Winkel district in the south of Dalaas is divided among the Murschutt alluvial cones of Rotrüfitobel, Leuistrich, Winkeltobel.
As you approach, the Burtschakopf appears larger and larger. From the west, the Paluda landslide, which reaches almost down to the valley floor, is more clearly visible.
It does not take long and we have again the church of Außerwald right below us. From the large dining car you can see the pipelines of the Spullersee power station between Grafenspitz (1871 m) – Dürrenberg in the north, and Krafthaus Spullersee in Innerwald in the south.
Because of its magnificent location, we can see far in front of us high above the Kaltenberghütte at 2089 meters. It is also accessible from the Langen train station.
After the now following Blisadona tunnel we have reached the station Langen am Arlberg. It is worth watching the train moving on. When the train has disappeared into the tunnel, we see the western portal structure of the Arlberg railroad tunnel, which is a listed building.
