Bernese Oberland
Saturday [28th May] travelled to Wengen via BA flight from London
Gatwick to Zurich then train changing at Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen.
Sunday [29th May] walked south of Wengen, ascending a small hill,
Lieberhorn. Discovered on the way that the path to Mannlichen was
still shut due to a mudslide caused by very snowy late spring weather!
Monday [30th May] took the train to the Jungfraujoch, (8,454m,
13,111ft) and had a walk on the glacier - great fun. Then through the
ice palace and onto an outdoor area which we visited even though it was
blizzard conditions.
Tuesday [31st May] walked north of Wengen and found a swiss trig point
- just a very small concrete block with a red triangle and a hole in
it. The trig point doesn't even intrude above the surface.
Wednesday [1st June] took the train to Kleine Scheidegg and then
ascended the Lauterhorn. This was fun as due to the recent heavy
snowfalls the path in places was covered in snow. No crampons so I
took the decision to ignore the path and go straight up, keeping to the
non-snowy grass. It may have due to the altitude, now well above
2,000m, but progress was not brisk. Eventually made the skilift
station (only operational in the winter) and then struck
off for the summit. Not surprisingly with the increase in altitude the
snow was firmer and so I was able to follow previous foot steps as the
snowy sections were now unavoidable. The summit had truly breathtaking
views - with excellent views of the Eiger (north face), Monch &
Jungfrau, also the views down to Lauterbrunnen and Wengen were
staggering - drops of ~1,800m and 1,200m respectively. Back to Kleine
Scheidegg and then followed the easypath back to wengen with one
diversion via a small hill, Girschbiel.
Thursday [2nd June] took the train to Wengernalp and walked back to
Wengen.
Friday [3rd June] took the cable car to Mannlichen and then walked to
the summit. Attempted to walk to Kleine Scheidegg but defeated by the
snow drifts.
Saturday [4th June] back home!
Weather was fantastic (30C at 1,275m was amazing(!)) bar the Monday
which was wet and Friday night which was very, very wet.
Photos @ http://witzerland.fotopic.net/
52 summits this year......
46 new (1 Outlier, 29 Marilyns, 21 SWEATs, 24 Wainwrights) [UK]
4 new [Swiss]
Girschbiel 1,900m 6,234ft
Lauterhorn 2,472m 8,111ft
Lieberhorn 1,526m 5,007ft
Mannlichen 2,342m 7,683ft
2 repeats (1 Wainwright, 1 Marilyn, 1 SWEAT)