I hadn't been to the Grindelwald area for a couple years (usually try to avoid it because of the masses of Asian Tourists) but there was a bus ride I had never tried, from Meiringen in the Hasli Valley to the North, to the pass called Grosse Scheidegg at the foot of Mount Wetterhorn (where the road continues to Grindelwald). This is not the usual way to get to the popular vacation town of Grindelwald (usually reached by train from Interlaken to the West) and the bus trip comes with a supplemental charge, even for holders of the Free Pass subscription like me...
My hike started at the Pass, took me to Grindelwald First cable car station (most tourists come up with this cable car from Grindelwald), then along a well-traveled wide road to the very popular Bachsee Lake, and then over a very interesting ridge to a steep descent on the Grindelwald side. I didn't walk all the way back to Grindelwald, but took another mountain bus (with another supplemental charge) from the little mountain restaurant called Waldspitz. My descent had already involved a steep 500 altitude meters, and to continue to the valley would have been another 900m, and that is just too much downhill!
In all I walked a fabulous 13 km in five hours, and even though the sun disappeared as I got near the lake (and the wind was COLD!) I never tire of the Bernese peaks up close, especially the spectacular North Face of Mount Eiger.
On the bus ride up from Meiringen to Grosse Scheidegg, this is the view looking North (the way we had come) |
Shortly after getting off the bus, I went up a small hill and got this splending view into the Grindelwald Valley |
At the start it was very cold, and my cold coffee didn't help much! |
The low road was paved so I took the high road. First goal is Grindelwald First cable car station at the arrow on the picture (6 km, approx. 2 hours) |
It was an easy, pleasant and sunny trail all the way to First, always with the Eiger North Face in sight. |
The fabulous North Face of Mount Eiger (The white peak behind it is Mount Jungfrau) |
Soon it got quite warm, and stayed that way till up at the Bachsee Lake. Then the clouds covered the sky. |
At Grindelwald First there is a popular Zipline... |
Since I took a shortcut below the ski lift station on the left, I didn't notice the cliff walk until I was up higher, and wasn't going back. This will be an adventure for a different day! |
Cliff walk and lookout platform at Grindelwald First. The sunny cauldron in the back used to be half-filled with glacier ice 30 years ago. |
The road to the Bachsee is rather dull and stretches a boring 50 minutes, and is also a popular route for tourists who come up via cable car to Grindelwald First. |
A popular view of the Bernese Alps from the Bachsee Lake |
My original plan was to descend to Waldspitz through this moor landscape. |
Instead I walked up a bit to pass through the gap left of the rocky tower, to descend steep on the other side. |
It was a good decision to change plans. I had better views and more afternoon light. |
Stunning rock formations on this side of the ridge. And silver thistles. |
It was a steep but rewarding descent from the rock tower on the ridge above. |
Beautiful landscape, even without the sunshine. |
I passed an alpine pasture where it was evident that the cows had recently been here.... |
.... and then I saw them being herded along the road below to lower pastures. This is called an "Alpine Cattle Descent", although a small one and without the headdresses. |
Last stretch through the forest to my destination. |
The Waldspitz Restaurant was my destination for the day. There is a bus that runs up here a couple of times per day. |
The sun came out for a last shine on the Upper Grindelwald Glacier. |
This road was so narrow, the bus had to turn lower down and back up up the road to pick up the passengers. |
On the bus ride down to Grindelwald, pretty fall colours and sunshine. |
On the bus ride down to Grindelwald, pretty fall colours and sunshine. |
Bus ride from Meiringen to Grosse Scheidegg, 13 km hike to Waldspitz, bus ride back down to Grindelwald. |
Total 13 km and 5 hours to walk from Grosse Scheidegg to Grindelwald-Waldspitz |
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