Winter Hike at the "Greatest" Glacier of the Alps: Aletsch Glacier

January 28, 2018 -- Definition of "Greatest": Unusually or comparatively large in size or dimensions.

"Largest" is the word that comes to mind for me, but that's maybe a language thing. In any case, the Aletsch Glacier, which is 23 km long and at its thickest point 900m deep, is the very largest or greatest glacier in the Alps!

And the Aletsch Arena is a very large region that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001 and also a very large winter sport area, which was wonderful because on this most beautiful Sunday when we were expecting so many people up there, the crowds had spread out so much that it was really quite peaceful and lovely. We took it easy and did away with any uphill walking by riding various cable cars and ski lifts so that we could meander along the cleared trail above the glacier and the mighty gorge below it, and through the clichéed alpine villages with chalets covered with "snow like icing on a cake" almost deeper than some of the houses were tall! ***

And of course the Great Aletsch Glacier is a wonder, in winter as well as summer, although summer is better, and I hope to hike here again this year (did a few hikes in this region in 2014).

An additional treat: Since Switzerland's favourite holiday "Carnival" is coming soon, the various bands that take part in the parades hold practices in public places, and we were treated to such a performance! ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guggenmusik )

*** The deep snow on the roofs looks fantastic, but there has been too much snow in the mountains, snow which fell on an original icy layer, and this has caused a couple of incidences of elevated avalanche danger this winter...

On the way up in the gondola from Mörel to Riederalp, this is the village of Ried-Mörel

Our first surprise of the day in Riederalp: Snow about 2m thick on the house roofs! 

I had never seen anything quite like this.

Our second surprise of the day, a "Guggenmusik" band practising for the Carnival Parades (there are hundreds of these bands participating in parades all over the country in the first two weeks of February)

After a walk through the village of Riederalp, we headed up with the ski lift (gondola for hikers) to the start of our walk at Moosfluh.

And to start, a look at the mighty Aletsch Glacier (23km in length) from the viewing platform.

And to the North across the gorge (the tongue of the Aletsch Glacier is below) is a side glacier called the Upper Aletsch Glacier. Where the two gorges meet is a huge suspension bridge that we want to cross this year. 

Heading West we have the distinctive Mount Matterhorn in our sights.

Very few skiers on the pistes, and not a lot of hikers either. The region is huge so it spreads out quite a bit.

It was a wonderful, beautiful day with perfect weather conditions. Warm, no wind, crisp snow.

No wonder the Matterhorn is a favourite. It is definitely a recognizable peak.

Now we reach the same level as the Upper Aletsch Glacier. There is a bridge in the middle that spans the gorge....

This is a zoomed shot of that bridge, piled high with snow. This year we want to hike here.

We found just the right spot for a picnic lunch. The ridge on the right, we walked across that in 2014. It's much larger than it looks! (Mounts Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn)

Across the Massa Gorge (which is the river that flows out of the Aletsch Glacier) is the village of Bruchegg near Belalp (also a popular ski area). You can see how easily the slopes release the snow to cause avalanches

From here we have quite a descent to Riederfurka, the restaurant/hotel is at the bottom, and the building above is a museum. Behind it is the Massa Gorge.

Villa Castel Nature Conservation Center. 

Heading back down to the village of Riederalp where we started.

Some animal seems to have jumped the gap between the road and the roof

We decided to stop at this bakery for cake and coffee on the terrace before walking another couple of kilometers to the next village to the East, Bettmeralp, from where we took the cable car back down to the Upper Rhone Valley

So much snow on all the roofs!

This one was my favourite, the snow is almost higher than the cabin!

We started with a gondola ride from Mörel in the Upper Rhone Valley to Riederalp, then another gondola ride to Moosfluh, the start of our walk. Back in Riederalp, we decided to continue to Bettmeralp to descend from there.

And on the way home, out of the train window. There's even a plane in the upper left corner...

All the hikes we've done in this area so far (Aletsch Arena)