After departing the Dolomites, we travel north to the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland, the mountain valleys and ridges towering above the enchanted city of Interlaken in central Switzerland. Our plan is to hike from village to village, staying a few days at each destination to explore during day hikes, returning to the comforts of a small mountain hotel.
We start by taking a train from Interlaken to Grindlewald, then walk through town and catch a cable car to the top of First - a big ski destination in winter. From the summit of First, we start hiking west past Lake Bachalpse and up to the summit of the Faulhorn, where we'll stay in the Faulhorn "hotel" a mountain refugio perched right at the summit of the Faulhorn with amazing views of the entire glaciated range of Alps directly to the south across the Grindlewald valley.
The Finsteraarhorn (4,049 medters) at sunset - highest mountain in Switzerland - as viewed from the Faulhorn.
We depart eh Faulhorn the next day and continue hiking north and west keeping a high line to ultimately reach Schynige Platte. From there we catch a cog train back to Zweilutschinen, and connect to a train that returns us to Grindlewald.
Berghaus Manndlenen
The weather drops down and rain enshrouds the valley so we pick a lower activity today. From Grindlewald, we board the postal bus and ride it to the pass at Grosse Scheidegg. Getting off in a total whiteout, we find the bright yellow trail signs and follow the red and white painted rocks back towards Grindlewald. We stop at Hotel Wetterhorn for a coffee then head up the mountainside towards Michbach - a lodge perched in the mouth of the heavily glaciated valley below the Wetterhorn. From there we hike right at the base of the massive cliffs below thee Mettenberg to Pfingstegg, opt NOT to take the cable car down and return by foot to Grindlewald.
Hiking trail tunnel
Next day, we take the cog railway up over Klieine Scheidegg pass and down the other side arriving in Wengen. We deposit our bags at the Baeren Hotel, one of the only hotels remaining open at this time of the season, quickly re-pack day packs, and catch the cable car up from town to Mannlichen. From here we hike the incredible Panaramaweg between contour lines, just below Tschuggen, pass through Kleine Scheidegg on foot, and then follow the gently descending trail all the way back to Wengen.
Low clouds again on the next day, so we opt for a low key hike from Wengen to the Interlaken overlooks of Letterhorn and Spatenalp returning to Wengen with strong winds. Today, the cog railways are all shut down up high and the Thuun winds are blowing at close to 100 mph across the ridges and passes. Definitely a good day to stay below tree line.
Today, we take the train down to Lauterbrunnen and hike up the valley to visit the stunning slot canyon waterfalls at Trummelbach, continue our hike to the head of the valley at Stechelberg, then return to Wengen. Paragliders, and base jumpers appeared overhead every 15 minutes or so adding a stunning punctuation to the otherwise bucolic and surreal atmosphere.
A tunneled, tracked, inclined cableway brings you up to the top of ten cascading waterfalls which erupt from underground and have carved out this slot canyon from the hard basalt. Tunnels and balconies have been chipped out of the rock so normalk hikings can experience the power and magesty of this special place. The hike follows the tunnels and staircases back to the valley floor.
Today, we move to Muren by taking the train down from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen, then the cable car up to Gritschalp, then the train past Winteregg to Murren. From there we hike through town, take the Allmenhubel elevated cable driven train to its terminus (this train used to be the lift that supported the bobsled run) and hike the remaining way to Blumental and the Sonnenberg hotel. The weather is so great, that we immediately depart on a day hike to Gimmelwald. The weather continued to hold, so we shot up to the summit of the Schilthorn on the cable car for sightseeing, and then back down as th forecast called for more rain tomorrow..
As forecast, the next day was totally overcast, so we hiked from Murren to Grutshalp and returned to Murren on the train.
On the next day, Diane rested and I escaped the low lying fog and clouds by hiking above them to the summit of the Bietenhorn (2,756 meters)
Unfortunately, all great things must come to an end, and we had to depart the next day for Zurich and our flight home.
Wood sculptures in the town of Brienz
A few iPhone pictures captured with the TrueHDR app
Faulhorn Hotel on the peak...
Narrow winding roads with interesting signage
Cow fences pulled down for the winter as the pastures convert to ski runs
Selections from this post will be made available for sale as high resolution note cards, wall art, and posters by Thanksgiving 2012. Stay tuned and I'll alert you when these images are ready. I'll b happy to make a custom wall calendar for you as well from any 13 images from the collection.
