The starting point for the stage is the Gafadura Hut. Prince Johann II built it to be a hunting lodge. In 1968, the Liechtenstein Alpine Club was able to purchase the hunting lodge and its inventory and it was then converted over time into a modern mountain hut. The hike starts with a short climb to the Saroyasattel pass where the national border between Liechtenstein and Austria is crossed. Via Alpina runs around the Three Sisters to the Garsella-Alp. For mountaineers who are sure of foot and do not suffer from vertigo, it is also possible to take the hiking route over the Three Sisters. The Three Sisters track is well secured with ropes and ladders. But back to the Garsella-Alp, where the climb over verdant alpine pastures to the Garsellikopf peak begins. The Garsellikopf peak and the rest of the route offer a fantastic view into the Rheintal valley. Villages of both Liechtenstein and Switzerland lie at the feet of the hiker, divided by the Rhine. A marvellous insight into the alpine world of Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Austria is also gained here. The Saminatal valley with the Garselli/Zigerberg forest reserve lies to the east, where the aim is to preserve the woodland ecosystem, species diversity and gene pools. The development of the forest reserve is left to the course of nature, and is not exploited in any way. The Gafleisattel pass marks the start of the Fürstensteig track, which was opened in 1898. This bold and wonderfully structured track is well secured with ropes, although you do need to be free of vertigo. Those who are not should opt for the Helawang – Bargella mountain trail and then come back onto the original route once above Gaflei. A well built alpine trail above Gaflei, accompanied by magnificent alpine flora, leads via Silum to Sücka, the stage destination. The entire route is well signposted and marked in red-white-red as a mountain trail.
(Ewald Oehry, AWNL)

Alp Gafadura with the Alpine Club Hut belongs to the Liechtenstein community of Planken, where the Valsers settled in around 1300 on a sunny terrace over the Rheintal valley. But the name “Gafadura” bears witness to earlier land clearance in Roman times. The Swiss marched to battle in Frastanz via the Saroya-Sattel pass during the Swabian war on 20 April 1499. This crossing was also fought over in 1799 in the French war. The legend of the “Three Sisters”: three proud, hardhearted girls were gathering berries on the Holy Day of our Lady. They came across a beautiful women who asked them for some fruit for her poor sick child. “Those who want berries must gather them themselves, beggar!”, was the pert reply. The Holy Virgin then appeared as if surrounded by celestial light and said: “You have defiled my holy day, you have denied my request, you have stones for hearts. And as stones shall you stand here for all eternity”. The Three-Sisters-Trail leads from the Saroya-Sattel pass via the Garsella Alp of Frastanz to the most striking rock formations of the Three Sisters and on to the Garsellikopf peak and Kuhgrat ridge, the highest point (2,123m above sea level). This panoramic track was built in 1897 by the German and Austrian Alpine Club. Engineer Carl Schädler of the Gaflei alpine spa house took responsibility for the sections from the Kuhgrat ridge to the Gafleisattel pass. In 1898, the most daring section of the route, 1,000m high over the Rheintal valley was constructed by Prince Johann the Good. The Fürstensteig trail crosses the eroding dolomite rocks of the gypsum mountain faces of the alpine peak. Seen from a distance, the steep rocks of the Three Sisters chain appear to be bare and bleak, but the attentive hiker will notice a burgeoning plant life of algae, moss and lichen on rocky walls, blue-green round-leaved saxifrage and common moonwort, snow willow and alpine roses, auricula and field gentian, Italian bellflowers and orchids, to name but a few species. On Alp Bargella, a moraine area, the main dolomite of the Three Sisters chain is left behind. On the side of the Saminatal valley lies a huge erratic block with the inscription: “Centre of Liechtenstein. Bargälla 1,721m. World Mathematical Year 2000.” The beautifully situated village of Silum was populated 700 years ago by Valser immigrants. Today, it is the location of “Maiensäss” traditional farmhouses and an idyllic holiday destination, occupied and farmed between 1934 and 1938 by the “alpine brotherhood” religious community. On the side of the Rheintal valley, the Partnach grey-black shale and dense limestone layers can be seen along the trail. Near the Saminatal valley, a view over the impressive alpine world of Liechtenstein with the Rätikon can be enjoyed and soon the southward route reaches the stage destination, Sücka spa house below the Old Tunnel.
(Johann Oehry / Ewald Oehry, AWNL)