Klausen Pass

Infobox Mountain Pass
Name =Klausen Pass
Photo =Klausenpass sign.jpg
Caption =
Elevation = 1948 m.
Location = SUI
Range = Alps
Coordinates = coord|46|52|05|N|8|51|20|E|type:pass_region:CH-GL/CH-UR|display=inline,title
Topographic

Traversed by =

Klausen Pass (German: "Klausenpass") (el. 1948 m.) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Uri and Glarus. The pass road from Altdorf leads through the Schächen Valley, the pass and Urnerboden to Linthal in Glarus.

According to legend, the border between Glarus and Uri was determined in 1315, following prolonged disputes. The two cantons agreed that at first cockcrow, two runners would start from Altdorf and Linthal, respectively, and the border would be where they met. The people of Glarus decided to feed their cock well, so that it might be sympathetic to their cause, while the people of Uri gave theirs nothing to eat at all. The result was that the Glarus cock overslept, while the Uri one, driven by hunger, crowed exceptionally early, and the runner of Uri crossed the entire Urnerboden before the Glarus runner even set out. On the pleading of the Glarus runner, the man of Uri agreed to let him carry him back uphill as far as he could, and the present border between Uri and Glarus is where the Glarus runner fell dead.

As well as being a popular route for cyclists and motorcyclists, the Klausenpass also forms part of the Alpine Pass Route, a long-distance hiking trail across Switzerland.

External links

* [http://www.salite.ch/klausen1.htm Elevation profile from Altdorf]
* [http://www.salite.ch/klausen.htm Elevation profile from Linthal]
* [http://www.pictures-switzerland.com/klausen/ Free Pictures Klausen Pass]
* [http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Klausen%20Pass%20&qryMountainID=5397 Profile on climbbybike.com]
* [http://www.klausenpasshoehe.ch Klausenpasshoehe.ch] - lodge on the pass with tour description and webcam (in German)