Grindlewald, Switzerland
Grindelwald is a Swiss village at 3,392 feet above sea level. Dating back to 1146, it became a major tourist destination in the Alps in the 1800s. The village is nestled beneath the Bernese Alps, with mountains such as the Wetterhorn and Eiger forming a dramatic backdrop.
Arrived in Grindlewald
Sat, Sept 6
We took the scenic panorama train from Montreux and arrived in town around 4:30pm. There were literally thousands of people waiting in line at the train station to return down the mountain to Interlaken. Apparently, a big marathon had taken place that day... lots of people were walking funny. It took a while, but we made our way past the crowds and walked to our lodging. The receptionist told us about a music festival happening in town, so we hopped on the bus and headed into the village. We found a restaurant and enjoyed a great meal. Later, we walked downhill back to our hotel and the evening light on the Eiger was amazing. The photos can't capture the size and magnitude of the scenery here. Spectacular.
Hike to First (Mountain)
Sun, Sept 7
First is a minor summit and mountain location on the slopes of the Schwarzhorn in the Bernese Oberland, standing at 7,165 feet. It is known for its cable car station above Grindelwald and popular hiking routes in the region.
We took the Firstbahn gondola up to First (Mountain) and hiked to Lake Bachalpsee along with many others. The wide, graveled path made the crowds manageable, and stunning vistas accompanied us the entire way. The lake itself wasn’t remarkable, but cows wandering nearby drew plenty of selfie-takers.
On the return hike, we walked out onto a suspended platform overlooking the valley—an unforgettable view.
On the ride down, we stopped at a midpoint gondola station for a veggie burger and fries.
We considered riding rental carts (tricycle buggies) down to the next gondola station but skipped it due to long lines in the hot sun. From there, we rode the gondola to the bottom and caught the local bus back to our hotel to rest up.
Our friend Roger drove from his home in Zurich to ride his mountain bike and meet us for dinner. Such a nice guy... Ronnie rode mountain bikes with him in Boise over the summer.
Headed to Lake Como
Monday, Sept 8
The (free) breakfast at the hotel was a pleasant surprise, different from what we’d had elsewhere. The next morning, we headed on to Lake Como.
Next Stop
Ronnie