Sledging and hiking in Grindelwald-First in March?
A traveler is planning a trip to Grindelwald at the start of March, focusing on sledging at Grindelwald First and hiking the Big Pinenfritz. They are seeking advice on boot suitability for snow conditions and the current status of sledging runs, given recent reports of low snow levels.
- Check the official site regularly for updates on the status of the Big Pinenfritz and other sledging runs, as conditions can change quickly.
- Bringing your own sledges is an option, but rentals are also available, and you can return them at various locations along the GrindelwaldBus route.
- Consider wearing proper snow boots instead of hiking boots for better insulation, especially if you plan on playing in the snow.
AI-generated summary-
We’re hoping to check out sledging at Grindelwald First at the start of March and potentially even doing the Big Pinenfritz with the 2.5 hour hike before starting the trail.
For anyone with any experience with sledging in the area: Would the Columbia Newton Ridge Plug Waterproof Amped boots be sufficient or would we need specifically snow boots that would be even more insulated?
http://www.columbia.com/p/womens-newton-ridge-plus-waterproof-amped-hiking-boot-1718821.html
Also: It seems like the most official site I can find regarding the Big Pinenfritz says that its current status is closed even though it lists the season dates as 17.12.22 – 26.03.23 (depending on the snow situation).
http://www.jungfrau.ch/de-ch/schlitteln/laengste-schlittelabfahrt-der-welt/
Is there just very little snow in the area this year that’s causing it to be closed now when it normally would be open? I have seen some articles about the Swiss Alps having low snow this season but I didn’t see this area mentioned specifically. Anyone know if it’s been open at all yet this season?
I assume we’d have several sledge and helmet rental options at First and that we’d be able to return them either at different shops at the bottom of runs, but is that not the case? Would we need to return the sledges to the same place they were rented from?
Any general tips or info anyone can share about doing the Big Pinenfritz or other fun sledging runs? We’re a relatively fit married couple without kids. We’ll be staying in Grindelwald for 2 days and 2 nights at the start of March and this is at the top of our list of what we’d like to do.
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Hi Spreckles,
Welcome to MySwissAlps! Wonderful to hear you are considering a trip to Switzerland.
Yes, the Big Pintenfritz, the longest sledge run in the world! Unfortunately snow conditions have not been as abundant as previous years so as you can appreciate, this causes some runs to remain closed or limited in operation. For now the Big Pintenfritz is closed so it is best to keep tabs on the official website for further information. https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/sledging/longest-sledging-run-in-the-world/
Let’s hope for more snow in February and March!
More useful links here:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/winter
- https://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauhikingsledgingpass
- https://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwaldfirst
Regarding your boot question, generally snow boots are worn, as these are mid-calf in height so helps less snow entering your boots. More tips can be found here. https://www.myswissalps.com/plantrip/clothing/winter
You can either bring your own sledge or indeed rent them at the start of the run at Bussalp. When you are finished for the day, you can return the sledges at the return locations at the bus stops along the GrindelwaldBus route or at the Bärplatz train station in Grindelwald.
Feel free to check out other activities in the area, there is plenty to see and do and I have also included a link for accommodation in the area. You will also be able to research additional sledge runs.
- https://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald/activities
- https://www.myswissalps.com/activities/winter/snow
- http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald/hotels
Good luck and I hope you manage to experience the Big Pintenfritz.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thanks Yolanda!
I checked out your link for the hiking/winter page and we had actually already read about the hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg and we really really wanted to do it, but I saw on another website that the trail was only open from June to October so I was bummed. But after I saw that the trail was listed on the hiking/winter page here I realized that maybe they just call the hike something else in the winter? Or maybe it’s not exactly the same trail as the Panorama trail between the 2 places that’s open in the summer? Anyway, I’m super excited that we might be able to do this hike!
However, again I’m seeing an indication from jungfrau.ch website that the current status of the trail is closed? Do they close winter hiking trails because of lack of snow too? Or is it just indicating closed because it’s currently night-time in Switzerland as I’m checking?
http://www.jungfrau.ch/de-ch/winterwandern/winterwanderweg-maennlichen-kleine-scheidegg/
Thanks so much for the help! This site has been super useful and I’m so glad I found it!
The official winter walking paths are here: http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/winter-hiking.html
As you will no doubt have seen – as well as the current status of closed, the Jungfrau authorities also state that winter walking paths are open ‘depending on the conditions’ : http://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/winter-hiking/winter-walking-trail-maennlichen-kleine-scheidegg/
Unlike in summer, winter walking paths are subject to a lot of variables that might render them unsafe or unusable. They are usually prepared by using a machine to half clear snow and then pack down the created path so that you can walk on it. This method makes the paths usable in perfect conditions, but the following factors can make them unusable:
- too warm or wet, so the snow turns to slush
- too uneven due to situation 1 occurring during the day but the path then freezing overnight and becoming uneven and dangerous
- no snow
- too much snow
- too much wind, fog etc
It’s not the lack of snow that’s keeping the sledge run closed. The hiking trail from Bachalpsee to Faulhorn (where the Pintenfritz run starts) is closed and hasn’t been open at all this season. I was there one month ago, at the end of December, there was enough snow at that altitude, but the trail from First was open only to Bachalpsee. We hiked down from Bachalpsee to Bort via Waldspitz.
The trail from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg was also closed when we were there and hasn’t been open at all this season. The sign said “danger of avalanche and falling rocks”.
At the end of December there was enough snow starting from aprox. 1600m. Now I assume it should be even more. You can check the webcams in the area so you can have an idea of how much snow there is.
I did not see any sledge renting place up at First. Only in the villages (Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen).
Regarding the boots – the hiking boots in the link are too low in my opinion to be worn in the snow, especially at the heel and especially if you plan on sledging and playing in the snow. But maybe you could wear them with gaitors.
Thanks! So if the trail to Faulhorn is closed but there is otherwise snow, could other sledge runs from First or from Bussalp still be open? I’ve seen a map that indicates that there is another sledge run that must follow the hike you took starting before Bachalpsee and going past Waldspitz and Bort. Do you know if that run was still open for sledging when you were there while the trail to Faulhorn pas Bachalpsee was closed?
Maybe the thing to do will be to just rent the sledges at Grindelwald and lug them to whichever run we choose since we know we’ll end up there again for the return anyway. I take it there’s no difficulty getting the sledges onto the gondolas?
Thanks for the opinion on the boots! Not knowing how tightly packed the snow might be on the trails, we wanted to tread the line between shoes that were good for hiking the 2.5 hours and also sufficient for being in the snow. But we definitely wanted the opinion of someone with experience with what conditions to expect, so your input is great to have! We might look into boot rental options in Grindelwald or trying to fit the extra pair in our luggage.
Thanks! Although I’m actually not seeing the hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg showing up at all on the map for the winter walking paths site you linked to. Do they only show trails that are currently open or am I using the map incorrectly? I’m currently only seeing a trail from Grütschalp to Mürren showing up in the area.
When we were there, the run from (near) Bachalpsee to Waldspitz to Bort was closed for sledges. I think it was because there wasn’t any snow at and near Bort. We hiked down on that path/run. The trail/run from Bachalpsee back to First had enough snow, but was also closed, I don’t know why. But I see that they are both open now for sledging. Hopefully they will stay that way until you visit, in a month.
However, we loved the Ritas Speedway sledge run from Mannlichen to Holenstein. And also the one from Allmendhubel to Murren (it has one scary but fun, short drop). And the views are fantastic.
There is no problem taking the sledges in the gondolas.
About Pintenfritz – I remember checking the status on the website from time to time last winter also and it was closed. I thought it was because the avalanche warning was at level 3, but this year is at level 2 and still closed. I don’t know exactly, but I don’t think that it’s open too often.
Hi Spreckles,
You can check the status of the hiking trails and sledging runs on Grindelwald First here: jungfrauregion.swiss/en/summer/planning-and-events/mountain-railways/status-facility-hiking-trails/first/
Most of the trails and runs are currently accessible. But I’m not sure what the snow conditions would be like in March. So best to check the status before your trip.
Regards,
Anna
Yes, that was the point I was making – the Schweizmobil map shows all OFFICIAL Swiss winter walking paths. The Jungfrau paths are local, not nationally recognised trails – and therefore perhaps less reliable.
It’s not the lack of snow that’s keeping the sledge run closed. The hiking trail from Bachalpsee to Faulhorn (where the Pintenfritz run starts) is closed and hasn’t been open at all this season. I was there one month ago, at the end of December, there was enough snow at that altitude, but the trail from First was open only to Bachalpsee. We hiked down from Bachalpsee to Bort via Waldspitz.
The trail from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg was also closed when we were there and hasn’t been open at all this season. The sign said “danger of avalanche and falling rocks”.
At the end of December there was enough snow starting from aprox. 1600m. Now I assume it should be even more. You can check the webcams in the area so you can have an idea of how much snow there is.
Unfortunately, enough snow isn’t a guarantee that a winter walking path or sledging run will be open, because as you noted a path can be closed due to avalanche danger. This is the problem with global warming, rocks are no longer held together by ‘permafrost, and the snow is not cold enough any more – there has been a lot of wet snow which means trails can’t open due to avalanche risk and rock fall
Yes, you are right, of course. The sledge run from Eigergletscher to Kleine Scheidegg to Alpiglen was closed while we were there and it had enough snow. But the snow was very icy and it was dangerous to go down on a sledge, I am sure that that was the reason. We hiked down on that path and wished I had my microspikes with me. At the same time, the path from First to Bachalpsee was groomed , and had good snow, that’s why I said I didn’t understand why it was closed for sledging.
But I mentioned the “enough snow” because I was answering to Spreckles, who asked if there was very little snow in the area and that was causing the runs to be closed.
Thanks for your input ioana! Too bad you didn’t get to explore the sledge runs, but happy to hear you had fun with the ones at Männlichen and Allmendhubel!
Thank you Arno! We had a wonderful time in your beautiful country!
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