A Walk in the Swiss Alps

I have to admit that I have a thing for snow-capped mountains – the sight of which brings tears to my eyes. 2014 was the year I saw a lot of mountains. It was the year I did Tour du Mont Blanc, hiking through the Alps across France, Italy and Switzerland.

10448502_548088535320137_5936710805173829531_o.jpg

Naturally before the trip I trained almost weekly in the Pacific Northwest. But to get acclimated to the timezone and the weather, I arrived in Switzerland one week before my group. I flew into Zurich, spent a couple of days in the Swiss capital of Bern, had dinner at the wonderful Michelin starred Restaurant Meridiano, accompanied by a spectacular lightening show. I also made a day trip to Lucerne, rode the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to Mount Pilatus. Then on my fourth day I hopped on and off trains to reach Wegen, therein I stationed for the next three days exploring the Bernese Oberland part of the Swiss Alps.

10460451_532186796910311_7104760117517463104_n

The date was July 6th, warm and sunny. I arrived in Wegen after a combination of the fabulous swiss transportation system from Bern to Interlaken,then to Lauterbrunnen. Upon putting away my luggage, I took the cable car from Wengen to Mänlichen, and began the walk to Kleine Scheidegg.

936063_537164173079240_8425281433442223334_n

Although the sign says one hour thirty minutes, it took me a lot longer, photographing  the breathtaking scenery along the way.

10540779_537151076413883_7244672079925459397_n

Right from the cable car station in Wegen, I was able to catch a glimpse of the peaks of Eiger (left), Mönch (right)

10530652_548088588653465_362954704943666075_o.jpg

With the summit of Jungfrau hiding behind clouds.

10532908_548088668653457_5207246558215574046_o (1).jpg

To my left were the cable cars

10530819_537151259747198_2230158319970973453_n

Descending to the village of Grindelwald and the lush valley below

10506831_548090058653318_5757680927117304335_o

With several turquoise colored tarns dotting the hillside.

10571938_548088451986812_4782157635261392196_o

The trail was practically flat, although in the summer it could get really crowded.

10385504_537152486413742_8283424175892731457_n.jpg

And depends on the year, there may be a little bit of snow to cross.

10572094_548090191986638_6958115705304040168_o.jpg

There were countless wildflowers

10519772_537153053080352_1427593887502539689_n.jpg

making it one of the most beautiful walks in the Swiss Alps.

 

Half way through, there stood a plaque in German

1911627_537152986413692_1403188715382150637_n.jpg

that roughly translates into “Green pastures, high peaks, snow-covered eternal summits rise in beauty. Praise God’s great doings that will not let people rest. Give God prize and honor.” 

One of the reasons I did this walk – although you would hardly need convincing – was to see the imposing formidable north face of Eiger (Nordwand) up close and personal.

10551515_548090031986654_5180694295240863392_o.jpg

I first learned about the Nordwand via the 2008 German film documenting the 1936 climbing disaster that killed four climbers from Germany and Austria. Tony Kurz from Germany was the only one who came close to being rescued. However, after spending days exposed to the elements he tried but could not tie the knot that connect the ropes to his rescuer. Faced with the futility of his situation, he famously said “Ich kann nicht mehr” (“I can’t anymore”) before losing consciousness.

The fast changing weather was partly to blame for Nordwand’s notorious reputation among mountain climbers – one minute ago it could be sunny

10514197_548088565320134_3040150272438317764_o

the other – dark clouds rolling in

10506804_548091068653217_4349018847102557552_o

Depending on the route, there were also the treacherous glacier fields to traverse and sudden avalanche to dodge.

10572010_548091035319887_2103800154839433484_o.jpg
The Eiger Glacier

I saw a chopper flew in during my walk

10504870_548091895319801_8278821359605065794_o.jpg

and wished that nobody was at peril.

Once I passed a cafe with a lookout and an outdoor terrace

10525889_537162406412750_17606458084415776_n

I approached Kleine Scheidegg.

I could see trains

1974405_548092015319789_4315755520203396042_o.jpg

On their way to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe.

Coming up next in the Travel section: Portugal in May.

54 thoughts on “A Walk in the Swiss Alps”

  2. Pingback: Paris, I Hate You! – Travel-Gourmand.com

  4. Mindblowing. It’s beautiful in the summer (still with snow capped peaks). Reminds me of a similar hike there that I took last week (Gimmelwald), albeit it was probably much colder and coated with snow! Thanks for the timely reminder. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Dear Amanda, Thank you for stopping by. It is flat and anybody of any fitness level can do it. So I am sure you will be find. This is the most rewarding “walk” with the least effort 🙂 Do plan more time on this walk, not because of the distance and the difficulty, but because you will want to stop and take pictures every few minutes 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  16. What a wonderful story and amazing photographs. I had been to Wengen and did a small trail around Wengen, it is indeed very beautiful. I would so like to do this hike. Thank you so much for post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  28. Beautiful! Wonderful views. Did the altitude affect you? I found out in Banff that I’m really sensitive. I was having a hard time. Even by the end of a week I wasn’t doing that much better. One local told me that she lives there and still feels it. She said I’m probably one of those that are really sensitive.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Not in the Swiss alps. I was worried about altitude problem for the Mont Blanc trek, but it turned out okay. I think the thing is to pace yourself and do it gradually. That’s why I had planned to arrive in Switzerland earlier and spent a week there before the trek. I did however have issues at Rocky Mountain in Colorado at the very top and experience some discomfort in Banff too. But that’s probably because I did not get acclimated to the altitude. The worst one I had was in Yunnan China.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  29. Whoa ! Some really breathtaking clicks up there . And hey, I too visited Jungfraujoch very recently (June 2018) with my family , along with the 6 year old kiddo (who has by now become a permanent wanderer, thanks to his nomadic parents)and we just loved it..I have in fact shared the entire Jungfrau experience including the incredible train journey from Interlaken Ost Station to Jungfraujoch yesterday only : https://insideoutwithrahulyuvi.com/2018/09/03/an-incredible-train-journey-to-the-top-of-the-europe-interlaken-ost-station-to-jungfraujoch/

    Like

    Reply
  30. Pingback: Back to the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland – Travel-Gourmand.com
  31. Pingback: Hiking: Mänlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, Switzerland – Travel-Gourmand.com

Leave a comment