Challenging winter hiking in Jungfrau region
-
Removed userParticipant72625 posts5 March 2019 at 14:10:13 #820236
Hello everyone,
I will visit Grindelwald on the 9th March. First time for me in Switzerland.
I am an experienced hiker. Hiked mainly in the UK.
I am planning a route for a winter hike on the 9th of march .
I found 3 options:
• First – Bachalpsee – Waldspitz- Bort
• First – Bachalpsee –Faulhorn – Bussalp
• Mannlichen -Kleine Scheidegg – Alpigen
I would like to have suggestions on the aforementioned hikes.
Which one you advise ?
Which one is the best/ most spectacular ?
I am looking for spectacular views and a challenging day 🙂
Thank you in advance
Gabriele
-
Removed userParticipant72625 posts5 March 2019 at 16:30:24 #905659
Hi Gabriele,
Use this link to get a general overview of the available hikes in the Jungfrau Region:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion/activitie sThis link will also be helpful to find options: http://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/winter-hiking/
To find out about travelling times use our timetable link: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
FYI – If you find connections on this timetable this means the destination you’re looking at is open and operating at the selected date.
I’m sure some forum member will have some personal experience to share as well.
Happy planning.
Best,
StephMarkParticipant794 posts6 March 2019 at 3:17:33 #905660Hi Gabriele
All 3 options are very scenic. Mannlichen to KS is the most famous but the section from Bachalpsee to Waldspitz is my personal favorite. Besides being very scenic it is down hill and relatively easy. A 4th option you might consider is First to Bachalpsee to Faulhorn and return to Bachalpsee and descend to Waldspitz/Bort and return to Grindelwald by cable car. The only difficult part is the ascent right at Faulhorn. Mark
Removed userParticipant72625 posts6 March 2019 at 9:00:44 #905661Thank you Steph and Mark.
Hope to hear from more expert/users
Gabriele
Removed userParticipant72625 posts7 March 2019 at 9:08:12 #905662What part of the mountain: the First side or Kleine Scheidegg provide more spectacular views?
Thanks
Gabriele
ArnoModerator15471 posts7 March 2019 at 10:13:42 #905663Hi Gabriele,
Please prevent posting the exact same questions twice: http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/winter-hiking-grindelwald (see http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/rules). If you need to do so because the old thread is already closed, then please include a link to the previous thread so people can see the information provided already. Thanks!
MarkParticipant794 posts7 March 2019 at 12:19:19 #905664Hi Gabriele
Rating the views is somewhat subjective like asking which is better, chocolate or vanilla. Overall I would say they are similar but the KS side has close up views of Jungfrau and Eiger which are the more famous peaks in the area. I have included some photos so you can judge for yourself. the first 2 are from the First side and the last 2 from the KS side Mark
Attachments:Removed userParticipant72625 posts7 March 2019 at 12:43:11 #905665Hi Mark!
Thank for the info. Lovely pics 😊.
Completely agree with you. It is very subjective. I ve never been in the area hiking so I would like to make the most of the only day I have available ( unfortunately). Thus I was asking for advices from expert of the area in order to pick “ the best hike” of the aforementioned.
Gabriele
MarkParticipant794 posts8 March 2019 at 0:11:46 #905666I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with any of the hikes mentioned. At least in difficulty i would rate the hike to Faulhorn the hardest and the hike to Waldspitz/Bort the easiest.All 3 have fantastic views. Mark
SlowpokeParticipant7567 posts8 March 2019 at 0:36:09 #905667Hi Gabriele-
Short notice, so I don’t have time to dig into the details.
March is the issue,it is still Winter, as you have noted, and the other posters may not have noticed that.
Some of those trails are groomed in the winter for hiking.
If they are not, they are not passable, unless you use snowshoes or skis. Meters of snow depth are not unknown on those trails. And, if they are closed, there is another good reason…possible snowslides.
Ask the tourist office at Grindelwald, hey will have precise answers, and look at webcams:
en.swisswebcams.ch/suc he/ort/grindelwald-2660498/
Slowpoke
MarkParticipant794 posts8 March 2019 at 2:16:41 #905668Hi Slowpoke
The link provided by Steph above on winter hiking indicates all 3 hikes Gabriele mentions are maintained from the first of December until the end of March and should be available to hike. Well technically it says you can walk from First to Faulhorn and sled from Faulhorn to Bussalp. The trail from First to Bachalpsee to Waldspitz/Bort is open for hiking as is the trail from Mannlichen to KS. I did not see the trail from KS to Alpiglen mentioned. It would be a prime ski area so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was maintained as well for hiking and Gabrielle may have her own source on that section. Mark
SlowpokeParticipant7567 posts8 March 2019 at 3:05:25 #905669Hi Mark –
Thanks for checking the details that I did not.
Would you do your favorite – Schynige Platte to First, in the Winter?
Slowpoke
MarkParticipant794 posts8 March 2019 at 12:12:50 #905670Hi Slowpoke
Maybe! Hiking in the winter and on snow even if its packed down is definitely more difficult. I’ve never done it in Switzerland but it is a favorite of mine at home in the Smokies. No crowds and a special kind of beauty. I turn 66 in May and will be older and wiser…….well older anyway.
Mark
Removed userParticipant72625 posts8 March 2019 at 16:59:22 #905671Thank you Mark and slowpoke. Actually at Manchester airport ready to fly to switzerland. The weather forecast is uncertain. Finger crossed for tomorrow.
Thank you again no will give you the results.
Gabriele and Elena
SlowpokeParticipant7567 posts8 March 2019 at 17:45:50 #905672Good luck.
Hiking on order to sightsee becomes a bit boring f all you can see is the inside of clouds.
Don’t forget that the weather can change quickly and unexpectedly in the Alps. For the better or for the worse. Check in with the local tourist info bureau when you are there. They’ll have a clearer idea of the weather possibilities than the national services.
Slowpoke
Removed userParticipant72625 posts20 March 2019 at 8:04:47 #905673Good morning everyone!
Sorry for slow update!
With not perfect weather condition, but good enough and trail opens, we decided to follow your advice and hike First – Faulhorn – Bussalp – Grindelwald.
Superb and challenging hike.
Strenuous until Faulhorn due to steep ascent and deep snow. However very rewarding.
Thank you for the advices. Very much appreciated.
Gabriele
SlowpokeParticipant7567 posts20 March 2019 at 9:14:46 #905674Hi Gabrielle –
Good for you.
I’m impressed.
Did you meet any other hikers on the trail?
Slowpoke
Removed userParticipant72625 posts20 March 2019 at 10:29:00 #905675Thank you Slowpoke!
Only one. Experienced guy from Bern. Impressively, he was running the last stretch up Faulhorn.
Besides, We spotted few sledging on the way to Bussalp.
G
- The thread ‘Challenging winter hiking in Jungfrau region’ is closed to new replies.