Description of the attraction
One of the most picturesque peaks in the Plessur Alps in the canton of Graubünden is called Chirpen. It is located on the border of two municipalities - Arosa and Chirchen Praden and rises to a height of 2728 meters above sea level. Mount Chirpen is located between the Herlingrath mountain range and the Parpaner Weisshorn peak. The northern slope of Chirpen, which has long been explored by climbers and is equipped with special climbing brackets, just descends to Herlingrat. The northeastern slope is steep. From the top, the traveler has a magnificent panorama of Lake Urdensee and the Aroser Valley.
The name of the mountain Chirpen comes, probably, from the word "Sherben", that is, "mountain fragments". In past centuries, iron ore was mined from the depths of Mount Chirpen. The mines were also located on the slopes of the neighboring mountains: Aroser-Rothorn, Parpaner-Rothorn, Ertshorn, Guggernell. Iron-bearing rock was delivered to Arosa, where metal was smelted in furnaces. The adit for the extraction of hematite was located on Chirpen at an altitude of 2360 meters above sea level.
Mount Chirpen is used not so much for skiing (the main trails of the Arosa resort are laid from the ridge located behind Chirpen), as for climbing. The routes to the top of the fourth and fifth difficulty levels are suitable for physically strong people who know how to navigate the terrain and do not get lost in difficult situations. Experience on sheer cliffs is also desirable. The path will pass partly through snowy areas and alpine meadows. Only some sections of the route are considered easy. For the hike to the top, which takes 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the route chosen, you need strong waterproof shoes.
