72625 posts
Hello Rughtravel,
First of all I’m sorry to say you won’t be taking a cable car to the Jungfraujoch. The Jungfraujoch is Europe’s highest TRAIN station, so you’ll be travelling by cogwheel train. See details on the possibilities to reach there as well as more helpful information about the Jungfraujoch in the according tabs of below link:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfraujoch/gettingther e
In general spending about 2 hours on the Jungfraujoch is more than enough to do the entire walking tour, visit the Sphinx, the Glacier Palace, etc and have a little snack. Often, the altitude starts to “kick inn” after about that time.
You will have to go at least to the Kleine Scheidegg to get a direct view of the Jungfraujoch and see if it’s open, but even that will not guarantee that the situation is the same when you arrive, as the weather in the mountains can change very quickly. On the MeteoSWISS app you’ll find below there is a forecast for the Jungfraujoch you can look at and you will also find webcams on the net.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ab outswitzerland/practic al/websites
– http://www.myswissalps.com/we ather/forecast
And the Eiger Walk is from the Kleine Scheidegg to the station “Eiger Glacier”, on the train Kleine Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Steph
84 posts
A few more thoughts from our visit a few weeks ago:
1. You can see live weather cams through the JF sites. Someone told us it was raining in the valley in the morning but it was lovely up on top that day around noon.
2. Yes
3. Yes. The Monchsjoch will take 2 hours RT depending on your pace and if you take a lunch break at the hut. (It took me 50 min there and 30 min back).
4. You can only get to Jungfraujoch by the train. There are several Eiger trails. The more challenging one along its base goes 3.73 miles from the station Eigergletscher to Alpiglen station. It was very exhilarating and took us 4 hours going with many detours (including to the Rotstock climbers trail start) and stops. Enjoy.
72625 posts
Thank you both so much for the quick replies.
Steph, especially the part about altitude starts “kicking in” after 2 hours. I live at sea level so perhaps Monchsjoch would be out of the question or I should take high altitude medication.
Meemskirk, your post was extremely helpful.
Pardon the ignorance. Are cable car, cogwheel and train are same vehicle for going from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch?
This is my plan. Take the cable car/cogwheel/train from Interlaken OST to Kleine Scheidegg. Check out the weather. Then go on to Jungfraujoch if weather looks good.
The only thing is that I read that during summer months, the Good Morning Tickets need to be purchased ahead of time. If that is the case, I can be at Kleine Scheidegg and not able to buy the Good Morning Tickets. That would be a bummer!
72625 posts
Hello Rughtravel,
You’re very welcome! If you live at see level then I would recommend omitting the Mönchsjoch/Mönchshütte walk, as it’s 45 minutes one way.
I would NOT take any medication, but just make sure that you have a good breakfast that day, drink enough of water and have an extra piece or two of chocolate with you, to keep your blood sugar relatively high (as far as your health allows), that’s what I always recommend to the guests on tour with me and it’s normally enough and everybody fine.
A clarification on cable car, cogwheel and train. A cable car is a cabin which travels on a cable IN THE AIR, whereas a cogwheel train is a special type of train with a “cograil” for extra security. So the latter two travel ON GROUND.
Best,
Steph