Hut-to-Hut hiking in Switzerland

Old Jun 9th, 2000, 06:29 PM
  #1  
Satish Shenoy
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Hut-to-Hut hiking in Switzerland

I'll be going to Switzerland in July and
will be there for a week. I've been reading
quite a bit about various places to go
hiking, and villages to stay at. Any
suggestions on a week long itinerary ?
I will need to be in Zurich on the last
day otherwise the only place I have identified to go is Gimmewald (sp?)

Thanks much !

--Satish.
 
Old Jun 10th, 2000, 05:16 AM
  #2  
Bob Brown
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If you will get copies of Kev Reynolds books on hiking in Switzerland his works are loaded with suggestions.
The books are published by the Cicerone Press. The Valais - A Walking Guide is one of them. He also has one on the Bernese Alps.
I have not taken the walk myself, but if you start at Gimmelwald, you can make your way over the Sefinenfurka to Blumlisalp. From there you can go over the Hohturli Pass to Kandersteg. I know there a mountain huts and berg hotels along the way. The hike is more than I can do physically at my age, but it is said to be one of the classics.
The Liebermanns also have a good hiking book on Switzerland.
The Adventuresome Traveler Bookstore should have these items. The Reynolds books, however, are not listed by the name of the author, which means you have to know what you are after.
If I can find my Bernese guide, I will reply again. It, right now, is among the conspicuously absent -- mis laid it somewhere in my clutter.
 
Old Jun 10th, 2000, 05:59 AM
  #3  
Bob Brown
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OK I found my book.
About the hike I mentioned above in my first post, the description starts on page 119 of the book by Kev Reynolds: The Bernese Alps Switzerland, A Walking Guide.

Start from Gimmelwald and walk up to Murren and then pick up the path to the Rostock Hut. From there, about 4 hours from Murren if you are in peak condition, you reach the Sefinenfurka or pass. My guess is that the walk will take closer to 5.5 hours. (For me it would take about 7!!)From the pass descend to Obere Durrenberg where there is a hut with food and crude accommodations. But, it you are beat, it makes a good place to recover.
From there go on down to Griesalp, which is a village.
For Stage Two, refer to the hike that starts on page 138. From Griesalp, you ascend the Hohturli and then descend !! to Kandersteg.
If you do this one, I suggest taking the chair lift down from Kandersteg to save your knees. Otherwise, it is brutal at the end of a tiring walk. The Griesalp walk can be divided by stopping overnight at the Blumlisalp Hut, which is about midway.
From Kandersteg, which is a regular tourist town, you can continue in several ways. If you have some steam left, go over the Gemmi Pass to the Valley of the Rhone.
But I should not try to tell you all of what Reynolds has to say. Get the book and decide.
The Sefinenfurka and the Hohturli are two classic crossings that will test your skills and your endurance. Some of the routes are steep. But you do not need to carry a tent, because that is frowned upon unless you are actually climbing a peak. A light sleeping bag might be in order for the huts, although the ususal procedure is to provide a sleeping place and blankets. By the way the huts are not all that cheap and the mountain hotels are priced about like any other hotel. You can "sleep in the straw" for lesser amounts.
Reynolds has a book The Walkers Haute Route, Chamonix to Zermatt. That is a real lung buster!! I suggest not doing that one alone. I have only seen parts of the route, walked a couple of segments myself, and I can tell you that the Appalachian Trail pales by comparison. Good luck on this!
 
Old Jun 10th, 2000, 06:03 AM
  #4  
Bob Brown
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OOPPS. Descend TO Kandersteg from the Oeschinensee to save your legs. Kandersteg is the valley base. The trail and road down from the Oeschinensee is very steep. At the end of a long hike, it could be murder on your knees. The rest of the downhill plunge from the Hohturli is steep enough. You might consider going to Kandersteg first. Uphill is more lung pounding, but it does not stress the knees as much. Then from Gimmelwald, you can take the Luftseilbahn down to Stechelberg, where the Post Bus will take you to Lauterbrunnen for the train to Interlaken Ost.
 
Old Jun 11th, 2000, 10:31 AM
  #5  
Al Godon
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Hmm. Don't usually catch Bob in an error when it comes to Swiss trails, but the bookstore he references is The Adventurous Traveler!
The toll free number is 1-800-282-3963.
The store also has maps.
It also has a web site: www.adventuroustraveler.com
 

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