14th September 2010

Yesterday was forecast for rain, so we caught the train to Bern for a look around. Bern is about 30 minutes away by train
Today we spent 6 hours hiking one of the classics of the alps, from Schynige Platte to First. This is one of the hikes that I have really been looking forward to, and it lived up to all it's hype. We parked in a small town called Wilderswil, which is the railway station for the mountain train that goes up to the ever-popular Schynige Platte. Schynige Platte is the starting point for many hikes, is a famous viewpoint, and is also just one station of about 6 that are on a railway line that does a circuit high up in the mountains. The train is a cog-wheel train that has a toothed rail in between the 2 outside rails that allows it to traverse steep gradients. And steep it was. It took 50 minutes to go 7 km. But the view when we got to Schynige Platte was amazing. The Eiger, the Monch and the Jungfrau, dished up before us with a fresh dump of snow from the night before. Incredible!! We started the hike at about 1987m in grass meadows and views towards the mountains, but as we got up towards The Fauhorn at 2600m, we were hiking in snow and ice. Exciting when you are not used to snow, but also can be dangerous when you are hiking.

View from Schnige Platte down into the valley

Views towards The Eiger, Monch,and Jungfrau

Looking back on the trail we had just hiked.

You can see the trail going across the mountain

Other hikers on the trail ahead

Overlooking the Brienzersee

The trail can be seen going over the ridge that is at the left of the mountain. The next photo is a closer view.

The rocky trail as it heads up to Weber Hutte

The start of the snow on the trail. Thin in places and thick in others.

Hikers on the trail ahead to the summit of The Faulhorn

Our first glimpse of the Bachalpsee

Reflections of The Wetterhorn, The Schreckhorn, The Finsteraarhorn and the Fiescherhorn in the Bachalpsee.

The Bachalpsee is about 40 minutes from the end of our hike where we catch the mountain lift down to Grindelwald and catch a train back to our car. However, many of the visitors to the Bachalpsee catch the lift up for the short walk to the see and you would never find yourself alone at this beautiful spot.

Our final descent to the First (pronounced fear-st) mountain lift

The end is getting closer,at last!!