On the second day’s stage of the mountain trek to Haustock, we leave the Muttseehütte early and begin the ascent over scree slopes to Hintersulzlücke (2646 m). From there, the panorama opens up to the southwest, revealing the partially still-frozen Muttsee (in the foreground), the distinctive “hump” of Kistenstöckli near Kistenpass (left), Bifertenstock (centre, 3420 m), Selbsanft (right), and behind them, Tödi (3586 m). To the north, I stand before the abyss into the Durnachtal, where the view opens up to Linthal and Glärnisch. Ahead of us now is the ascent over the Ruchi to the key section, the ridge crossing of the ‘Furggel’.