My husband and I will be spending two days in Murren in mid-September, and I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle to bring hiking boots? How are the trails? Probably not paved, but doable with runners or rocky to the point that hiking boots are a must? We'll likely hike for a day, possibly a day and a half, depending on the weather. Also, our total trip is two weeks and considering the space my boots take up, I would rather travel without them if possible. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. <BR>

I haven't been to Murren; but I've dealt with the same question for the Pyrenees and Crete; and the answer is, wear them.

I did not have hiking boots with me when I was in Murren in April. I had planned on buying some there, unfortunately the stores were closed due to shoulder season. I was able to hike the trails I wanted well enough with the walking shoes I had and I was glad I didn't have to lug boots around. Having said that, if you find a pair you want to buy there, you can always ship them home. Lovely village, have fun. A.M.

Linda, <BR>I've walked all sorts of trails around Murren, Grindelwald, & Wengen, and all in winter and all without hiking boots. I usually wear sturdy tie-up shoes like oxfords, in leather to keep out the wet, with gripper-type soles to maintain traction. I also use this shoe for city hikes. This type of shoe will do unless you intend to do serious adventure hiking. Most trails in that area are nicely maintained and are merely dirt (or mud --). <BR> <BR>s

It all depends on the trails you attempt. I sure as heck would not attempt the Sefinenfurka without a good pair of hiking boots. <BR>And I know something else, I would never <BR>buy a brand new pair of hiking boots and then take off down the trail with them. <BR>It takes a while to break in a good pair. <BR>Some of the trails can be rocky and you need the high top for ankle protection. <BR>Good boots should protect your ankles from abrasions and twisting. <BR>Depending on where you go, and what the snow conditions were the previous winter, you can also need to cross snow banks. I would not want to tackle a sloped snow bank without good lug soles, and a hiking pole. Otherwise there is a better than 50% chance that you will navigate some of the snow while flat on your kodongkus. <BR>If you ride or walk to Gimmelwald, the trail to the Kilchbalm is relatively flat. Once there you see a new aspect of the mountains: You are deep within an old glacial cirque with vertical walls and plenty of waterfalls, ice pockets, snow banks and the one thing every Swiss mountain hike needs -- cows. <BR>

Most of the lower trails are not particularly rocky. There are some places where a scree collar would be appreciated. And, of course, the trails aren't always dry (or free of cattle). <BR> <BR>All in all the odds are you'll be okay without your boots. You may, though, find yourself a bit constrained as to the the trails you're comfortable on and the weather. <BR> <BR>That said, I've seen people (virtually all Americans I think) out on the dangdest trails with ordinary tennis shoes. <BR> <BR>twenj

Another consideration is the weather. We were hiking in that area in late May a few years ago and had rain and 1 day of snow. So waterproofing was a necessity. Check the normal weather and forecast. We spent a week on a casual vacation with 2 pairs of shoes apiece--hiking boots and leather walking shoes for me and runners for him. We did see lots of folks with various walking/running shoes, but some had quite wet feet.

This is great information for me also, since my husband and I will be in Murren mid September as well. So far I'm planning to skip packing the hiking boots to save space. <BR> <BR>Will there likely be snow in the town altitude mid September? I'm wondering how heavy of a jacket/sweater to pack. <BR> <BR>thanks, Kelly

You will need a heavy sweater in Mürren at night and if it rains. <BR>I was in Lauterbrunnen the 3rd week of September for the whole week and the nights often required a sweater. Mürren will be cooler, in theory, by about 8.5 degrees F because it is 840 meters higher. <BR>OK How can I say that?? <BR> <BR>The rate of temperature difference caused by atmospheric expansion is 6.5 degrees C per vertical kilometer. So .84 * 6.5 equals 4.7C degrees (or 8.47 F)differential between the two places. So if Lauterbrunnen was 55 degrees and relatively comfortable, Mürren should be about 47 degrees and feel quite a bit cooler -- at least it would to me. <BR> <BR>Of course at night, cooling is more rapid as the elevation increases and in the day time warming is more rapid as the elevation increases. <BR> <BR>If it rains, evaporational cooling can add greatly to the discomfort, so you would want a warm sweater under an uninsulated rain garment. <BR> <BR>In Lauterbrunnen neither snow nor sleet is likely in mid-September, but I have run into frozen precipitation at the 7,000 foot level in the 3rd week. <BR> <BR>And if you leave your hiking boots behind, stick to the easy trails. But, surface conditions are not the whole story. A steep downhill needs the support of a boot as well as the greater traction of a good Vibram sole. <BR>

For Kay: <BR> <BR>Snow in September ... likely? Anything is likely in the mountains. We had snow for two or three days one year on and around August 25 in Mürren. Actually were hiking in 6-8 inches of the stuff (higher drifts) in the altitude range of Schynige Platte and First to Grosse Scheidegg. <BR> <BR>That's not a regular event, but not especially unsual. <BR> <BR>Temps are likely to be pleasant in daytime, though it will cool off quickly in the evening. Bob's altitude/temperature relationship is roughly correct, but the adiabatic effect is that precise only in the laboratory. The actual change runs from 1/2 to one degree C for every 100 meters, and even then is subject to tempering (up or down) based on humidity, warmth in the rocks, wind, clouds, etc. <BR> <BR>Remember if you do any mountaintop excursions, as would be highly recommended, that temps at 10,000 or 13,000 feet are rather more likely to be near freezing or at least in the 40s (F) ... even in the middle of July. <BR> <BR>Net, if, when visiting places like the Jungfrau region, you really want to be relatively independent in what you do of the weather you want at least light hiking books that are reasonably impervious to water, layers of clothing, and waterproof and windproof outerwear. <BR> <BR>You'll find further notes on mountain weather at www.twenj.com/tipsmtnwx.htm

Hi all, <BR> <BR>Thanks for your input. Sounds like we will need to be as prepared as possible for the fickle weather in the Alps. Thanks especially to Bob and Ed for their scientific explanation of fall temperatures in higher elevations. We will bring a warm sweater and rain gear. <BR> <BR>Kelli, maybe we'll see you there! <BR> <BR>Cheers, <BR>Linda <BR> <BR>