esskay8

Hello everyone,

After poring over all the information available, I would like your help with this dilemma:-

My parents will come with my husband and I on a trip this September. Both are over sixty, with dad having recovered from a brain stroke, he is back to normal life but won't be able to manage too uneven a road and non-stop walking. Mom has weak knees so needs to rest between prolonged walks. None of them will like to walk up inclines.

But I still wanted to take them on a walking trail, if possible. I have seen and liked the Murren to Gimmelwald trail (might have missed details about difficulty) which lasts about an hour? I also like the Mannlichen-KS walking trail which is more popular (is the last part a steep climb on this one?).

Both walks are downhill and seem to have spots where my folks can rest while we carry sandwiches and water with us for refreshments...

I have only one day for this (will stay either in Wengen or Murren, most probably Wengen). So, can't do both.

Please let me know if I am off my rocker to even think of taking them on these trails? The scenic views of green meadows, villages with towering Swiss Alps behind them are so tempting.

Those who have done either or both, please let me know the ground realities. But kindly keep in mind I am talking about senior citizens who are not totally fit but don't lack in motivation.

My sincere gratitude

NE

Esskay8, we were in Wengen a couple of years ago and did the Mannlichen - Kleine scheidegg . It is a beautiful trail and a very easy one . There are places to stop, sit and gaze at the awesome views along the way . Once in Kleine scheidegg you can stop for a spot of lunch and grab the train down to Wengen .

neckervd

"won't be able to manage too uneven a road and non-stop walking"
Mountain trails are never even; although Maennlichen - Kleine Scheidegg is easy for people without health or knee problems.

You may also check Gruetschalp - Muerren with a restaurant and a railway station midway.

aliced

As part of our Switzerland trip almost two-Septembers ago, we were ages 67 and 72; the M-KS trail was fantastic and for the most part even. Be sure they have the proper footwear, I wore lightwt NorthFace hikers, my husband a stiff-soled Merrill sneaker/hiker if you will. Some people are up there in what you might wear out to dinner or to the beach! There are the parts on the trail that are quite narrow (3-4' if I remember correctly), obviously there are no rails, best to be hands-free for added balance. But lots of places to sit down. Before you start out, make sure you use the lovely facilities at the top of Mannlichen and also take water with you. Towards the end, you will catch lovely views of Grindenwald as well and have the option to ride down there or continue on to the cars back to Wengen. It was probably the best day we had in Switzerland (and all were pretty fabulous). I have had prior episodes of altitude sickness in the Rockies, but had none over there. We only explored Gimmelwald for an hour or two, didnt have time that day to hike from another spot. Another short walking area with spectacular views is up at the Berg Hotel on Schynige Platte; we went up there from Interlaken our first day in that area as it was already afternoon and a bit late to start further ventures. I hope this September is as gloriously beautiful as ours was in '14!!

PalenQ

Murren to Gimmelwald is a short walk but goes down a steep incline if I recall correctly - a paved foot path.

Grutschalp to Murren I have walked and it is flat as trails can be and there are train stops along the way- you may have to flag the train down though. Plus there is a celebrated restaurant with sun terrace about half-way. Might be your easiest walk and a love one as it goes along the cliff edge - from a safe distance - with wondrous views the way whole.

September can get quite cool at those altitudes - layering is suggested - sun pops out temps go up - clouds come in temps go down.

Pepper_von_snoot

Why do you want to visit Gimmelwald?

There is nothing there except houses.

Gimmelwald is shaped like a Z, so you walk up an incline (a paved zig-zag road) to reach the top of the town.

The Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg hike is down hill, but the dirt path is uneven and can be pockmarked with big puddles after a rainstorm.

It is imperative that an older individual with walking problems wears hiking boots and has hiking POLES!

I agree with Necker above that the walk from Mürren to Grütschalp would be easier because if your father can't finish the walk, you can all get the train at Winteregg.

However, the view is not as spectacular as the Man-KS hike.

Thin

esskay8

I thank all of you.

NE, it must have every bit breathtaking that I imagine.

neckervd, PalenQ and Pepper_von_snoot, thanks for pointing out the Mürren to Grütschalp route to me. I had not come across this earlier.

aliced and Pepper_von_snoot, thanks to you for making the Mann-KS trail a bit more graphic (3-4 feet stretches, uneven dirt paths, for eg.) for me. It makes it clearer for me to take a call. And, like most of you have said, it might be a tad difficult for my parents to do it and I will give the Grütschalp trail a thought. The prospect of mid-way trains make it sound the perfect option, if they are willing.

Will also look up Schynige Platte, as suggested by aliced.

Most importantly, first need to arm them with hiking shoes for any sort of mountain activities, just to make them feel a bit steadier.

Will making Wengen a base in the Bernese Oberland be ok? Or should I stick with Lauterbrunnen? I will be there for two nights (then move to Zermatt) in September.

Thanks again.

annhig

Most importantly, first need to arm them with hiking shoes for any sort of mountain activities, just to make them feel a bit steadier.>>

and get them walking in them before you go so that they are familiar with how to put them on, what socks they need, etc. etc.

neckervd

In September, Wengen has more late afternoon sun than Lauterbrunnen.
As told above, Muerren - Gimmelwald is nothing to write home about; furthermore, it goes down rather steeply: nothing for people with knee problems!
Schynige Platte is all but even too. You may go there for the nice view (and the old cog wheel train), but certainly not for walking!

Pepper_von_snoot

I love the Schynige Platte, but I agree that there is no way your father will make it up through the flower garden to the panoramaweg that looks down on Interlaken.

It is a steep, rocky climb.

The train ride up is wonderful, however, and there are breathtaking views from the restaurant terrace.

I would definitely stay in Wengen.

There is nice flat walking on the path that goes by Staubbach Fall in Lauterbrunnen (on way to Stechelberg).


Thin

PalenQ

you can all get the train at Winteregg..>

This is where the famous mountain restaurant with sun terrace is - a nice resting spot or hop on the train here.

Kay_P

Maybe I am in denial, but don't consider myself a "senior citizen" even though in my 60's.

PalenQ

There is nice flat walking on the path that goes by Staubbach Fall in Lauterbrunnen (on way to Stechelberg).>

I walked from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen via the falls inside the mountain and it was just a few totally flat miles along a tiny brook - catch the cable way from Murren/Gimmelwald to Stechelberg and stroll the final few flat miles- a piece of cake.

dreamon

I can see that poles could be handy for those who are unsteady but I really can't see the need for hiking boots. And heavy, unfamiliar ones would just make things worse. Sturdy runners would be just fine, in my view. You don't want to haul hiking boots around the rest of your trip for the sake of an hour or two.

I recall the walk from Grutschalp rising slowly and steadily - an easy walk. Walking along the valley floor (particularly the end of the valley) is also lovely: although you don't get the same spectacular views it's still delightful. There is a postbus which travels between Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen.

Kay_P - I'm with you - 60 is getting younger and younger with each passing year!

aliced

We dont consider ourselves seniors either, but our kids and grandchildren do! You're only as young as you feel, and we feel pretty darn good! No, we did not have official hiking boots (like the Lowe boots they were selling in Zermatt for $500) but you need a supportive, strong-soled shoe. Yes, the garden area up at Schynige Platte is uneven but we did fine with it. Naturally, you want to do these hikes on a dry day.

milaedg

Agree with NE completely! We also based in Wengen and did the KS hike two years ago in the summer. It was a beautiful day, the wildflowers were in bloom, the views were breathtaking, and the cows were friendly! It's a very easy hike, we saw several people who looked older than us (my friends and I joke about our age..we are "sexygerians"). Your parents will love it!

PalenQ

heavy hiking boots are for rugged trails when you hop from boulder to boulder sometimes but for these easy walks just some athletic shoes with good solid large souls are needed and unless you can rent some they will cost a fortune.

neckervd

Nice chat among fodorists, but it seems that everybody forgot the real problem of esskay:
"dad having recovered from a brain stroke, he is back to normal life but won't be able to manage too uneven a road and non-stop walking. Mom has weak knees so needs to rest between prolonged walks. None of them will like to walk up inclines"

tipsygus

For what it is worth I would suggest not doing either walk with the parents, but the walk along the valley floor from Lauterbrunnen to Stetchelberg, you get the better views in my opinion. There is a bus that runs along road if you need it and seats along the path.

Both the other walks are on unpaved paths, and are easy butgiven the information as i said i would not attempt these walks, Use the train toget from Grutschalp to Murren and stop off at Winteregg.

michele_d

We rented collapsible walking poles in Lauterbrunnen before our M-KS hike. I had just had major back surgery the year before so wanted to be extra careful. It is a fantastic walk. We loved it. We also loved the views from Murren, looking down into the valley below and watching the hangliders soaring below, you are so high up they are below you.