Switzerland: Eiger Trail, First, Bachalpsee, Bort, and Grindelwald
We explored Eigergletscher a bit, including the lateral moraine of the (now retreated) Eiger glacier (which gave us the chance to meet even more cows) before setting off on the Eiger trail, which crossed in front of the Eiger mountain. Our hike took us down 2,422 ft over 3.7 miles along rocky terrain, before we stopped at Alpiglen to take a train the rest of the way down to Grindelwald (which saved us another 3 mile, 2,200 ft descent).
The next morning, we took a cable car from Grindelwald up to First, 3,600 feet above the town. From here, we hiked to Bachalpsee Lake, often distracted by the amazing views of the valley below and mountains across from us. Most of our hike provided amazing views of the Eiger (which we’d hiked in front of the day before), Kleine Scheidegg, Männlichen, and Grindelwald, giving us perspective to “where we had been” along our trip so far. Mürren, Wengen, and Lauterbrunnen were no longer visible as they were on the other side of the Kleine Scheidegg ridge.
After visiting the lake, we hiked down to Bort, which was just a cable car terminal (that we had passed through that morning), a restaurant, and a hotel. Like many places we’d come to along our trail, it had an amazing playground that kept the girls occupied (even after a 5.2 mile hike with 2,362 ft of descent).
The following day, we hiked down to Grindelwald which dropped us another 1,600 ft before returning to Zurich and flying home. The highlight of our flight back was the clear skies below us which gave us a chance to see the coast of Iceland that we’d explored via car the week before, and amazing views of the glaciers and ice sheet of Greenland.
At Eigergeltscher before starting the Eiger Trail down
At Eigergeltscher before starting the Eiger Trail down
At Eigergeltscher before starting the Eiger Trail down
At Eigergeltscher before starting the Eiger Trail down
The lateral moraine of Eigergletscher
The lateral moraine of Eigergletscher
The lateral moraine of Eigergletscher
The lateral moraine of Eigergletscher
The Eigergletscher train station
A ptarmigan
Eigergletscher
Amy makes another cow friend
Eigergletscher
Eigergletscher
Eigergletscher
Eigergletscher
Eigergletscher
Looking back to Kleine Scheidegg and Männlichen
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen
The girls cresting the trail with Mürren in the background
The windows of the Eigerwand station (for the Jungfraujoch railway) peak out on the north face of the Eiger
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen with Grindelwald in the distance
Looking across to Männlichen (the giant cow is JUST barely visible near the buildings)
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen with Wetterhorn towering over the valley
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen
Descending the Eiger Trail to Alpiglen
Looking across to the top of First and Bort
Having a snack of Alpkäse (alpine cheese) at Alpiglen. This cheese was produced in the building next to the restaurant we stopped at
Alpiglen
Another Alpkäse cheese "vending machine"
Another Alpkäse cheese "vending machine"
Grindelwald street festival
Grindelwald street festival with the "toboggan club"
Grindelwald street festival with the "toboggan club"
Chalk drawings at the Grindelwald street festival
Grindelwald
The lift from Grindelwald up to First
Arriving at First, about 4,000 ft above Grindelwald
Arriving at First, about 4,000 ft above Grindelwald
Looking from First across to the north face of the Eiger and Kleine Scheidegg
Grindelwald, the north face of the Eiger, and Kleine Scheidegg
Grindelwald below Schreckhorn and the north face of the Eiger
Grindelwald, the north face of the Eiger, and Kleine Scheidegg
The north face of the Eiger
Hiking to Bachalpsee from First
Schreckhorn and Eiger
Hiking to Bachalpsee from First
Hiking to Bachalpsee from First
Bachalpsee Lake
Bachalpsee Lake
Left to right: Wetterhorn, Bärligstock, Schreckhorn from Bachalpsee Lake
Bachalpsee Lake
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Looking across to First
A closer view of First and the Cliff Walk (and SO MANY tourists)
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Wetterhorn and Schreckhorn above Bort
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn, and Eiger above Bort
Hiking from Bachalpsee down to Bort
Aperol Spritz at Bort
Our hotel in Bort with Wetterhorn in the back
The Eiger with Kleine Scheidegg in the distance
Alpenglow hitting Walcherhorn behind the north face of the Eiger
Alpenglow on Eiger
Hiking from Bort down to Grindelwald
Hiking from Bort down to Grindelwald
Hiking from Bort down to Grindelwald
Hiking from Bort down to Grindelwald
Eiger and Kleine Scheidegg from just above Grindelwald
The outskirts of Grindelwald in front of Wetterhorn
