Today it is off to see the Aletsch Glacier at Bettmeralp. The Aletsch Glacier is the largest in the Swiss Alps, is 23km long, covers 120 square kilometers, and is estimated to be up to 1 kilometer thick in places. It is only the lower section that is seen from Bettmeralp. We had to park in a massive big car park where everyone has to park as Bettmeralp is car free, as are many towns in the alps. The only access to these towns is via cable car and residents get around the town by either walking, cycling or most of these towns have small taxis/buses. So we caught the cable car up the mountain for the start of our hike to see the Aletsch. Most tourists take the cable car up to Bettmeralp and then another up to a view point at Bergstation Eggishorn to see the glacier. But we had come to walk it as far as the Hohbalm view point at 2490m. The trail was rocky and very steep but had tremendous views the whole way.
Still a long way to the top.
Looking down onto the trail
Bettmeralp
And this is what everyone comes to see, the Aletsch Glacier. Quite a spectacular sight when you cross the ridge and there it is, quite a way below.
The Blausee
On the other side of the glacier, another one up a small valley.
Looking down on Bettmeralp near the end of the hike.
On the mountain in the middle is the bergstation. We hiked to just below this and on the other side is the viewpoint overlooking the glacier.
Bettmeralp
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