We want to spend two weeks in Switzerland next June/July doing some moderate-level hiking. Obviously, we want to see the most gorgeous scenery and were thinking tentatively of 5 nights in the Engadine (Davos, perhaps?) and 5 nights in the Berner Oberland, plus a few nights in Lucerne at the end of the trip. We've been to Zermatt, so don't want to repeat that. Any better ideas?

Hi Karin, <BR> <BR>Your plan to spend time hiking in both Berner Oberland and Engadine is great. Definitely do some hiking around Gstaad and Gsteig if you can. I find the Lonely Planet Walking in Switzerland to be an excellent source. I am nearly finished hiking the 15 Alps Pass Routes myself-one left will do next weekend-which I have found has been an excellent way of really exploring Switzerland. I'm off now for a weekend camping and hiking in the Jungfrau Region. Be prepared for inclement weather though in June and July-Alps weather that time of year can be pretty unsettled and rainy.

Hi Karin. I have spent several weeks wandering around the Swiss Alps from an apartment base in Lauterbrunnen, a similar base in Saas Grund, and quaint little hotel in Zinal run by the Guillhaume family, which includes a multi lingual black dog and a French bulldog. (The black dog I hope is still warming the floor by the stove, but he was a senior citizen 2 years ago. He did however wag his tail vigourously to greetings in German, English, and French. So I concluded he spoke them all.) <BR> <BR>I also like the area in Val d'Anniviers south of Sion and Sierre in the Rhone Valley. We spend some time in Zinal and around Grimentz. There is one fascinating hike from Lac de Moiry to Cabane de Moiry. The whole way up you have the Moiry Glacier immediately in front of you. And when you reach the cabin (A SAC hut actually), watch out for that first step, it is a long one == straight down. <BR> <BR>Around Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Kandersteg there is such a large number of all kinds of excursions that I don't want to start naming them because I could go on for several pages. <BR>In quick summary, I find the walk from the First gondola station above Grindelwald to the top of the Faulhorn to the most beautiful hike I have taken. The view from the top encompasses as 360 degree panorama that is second to none. If you have the stamina, you can make a cross country route out of it by taking the route all the way to Schynige Platte. From there you can take the mountain tain down. Or, I suggest yu reverse the route if you are thinking about doing it. It is about an 8 hour endeavor. <BR> <BR>Let me suggest that you get two books that will aid you immensely in your planning. I regard them as the hikers Bible for both the Valais and the Berner Oberland. The two books are both by Kev Reynolds. One is "The Valais Switzerland" and the other "The Bernese Alps Switzerland". The hikes are graded for difficult and time. I find the time estimates to be for people in good condition. I cannot make it that fast anymore, but at age 68 I have slowed down a little from my Colorado days. <BR> <BR>The strategy we have followed has been to make day hikes out of it, even if it meant a return to our apartment after sundown. <BR> <BR>In summary, let me say that both in the Berner Oberland and in the Valais, you will find more hikes than you could do in 4 months of constant walking. <BR>And they are of all distances, from short 2 and 3 our treks to all day and even over night explorations. <BR>Other books are out there, but the series by Kev Reynolds is the best to my thinking. They are comprehensive and detailed. <BR> <BR>

OOPS "hour" not "our" and "spenT" not "spend" If I could proof read, I might have become an editor rather than an author!! <BR>And fill in any more of my klutzy typing with corrections. Two is my limit. After that I get hungry. <BR> <BR>

Let me second Bob's suggestion to get the Kev Reynold's books. They are excellent ... the best available. You can get them at the Adventurous Traveler Bookstore, <BR>http://shop.gorp.com/atbook/bookloc.asp?location_id=SAI <BR> <BR>The Lonely Planet book tries to cover teh whole country. It's useful within limits. In the areas I have experience in the author and I don't see eye to eye on the best hikes. <BR> <BR>You'll find more book resources listed at <BR>http://twenj.com/swisswalk.htm#books

Karin: my favourite areas are: The Engadin (Pontresina, Celerina). The Roseggtal, etc. are wellknown for hiking. Next to that, I love the area around Gstaad (Saanenmöser, Schönried, etc.). A nice little place is also Flims (Laax and Falera), famous for hiking. Davos.. well, it's almost a small town. I am not really a big fan.

Hi, I am from Switzerland too.... Don't go to Davos! What Ursula is saying is absolutely correct. In the Engadine I personally prefer the other side, Sils Maria, Silvaplana or so. Hope you have nice weather.

In your planning do not exclude the Grimsel Pass. There is a trail leading from the hotel near the top of the pass that goes along a glacier to a shelter cabin. To go all the way to the cabin or hut is a long round trip, but you can get a real taste of high alpine landscapes from there without having to pay the price of intense uphill slogging for two or three thousand feet. <BR>Also, the Grimsel Pass itself is spectacular. <BR>And one of the best hikes I ever took was to walk from the Grutschalp station on the west side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley toward Mürren. If you it that way, the Jungfrau and the other peaks of the ridge are in front of you and you can look at them the whole way. Once you get to Mürren you can have lunch or dinner at a cafe with a terrace that overlooks that stupendous view. <BR> <BR>If it is at all possible try to be somewhere in the vicinity on the night when a full moon rises. If the night is clear, the Jungfrau takes on an ethereal glow that is almost unearthly. <BR>I caught a view of the Jungfrau one evening when the last rays of the sun were causing the whole mountain to glow faintly when the moon began to rise over the peak of the Mönch. As the last rays of the sun faded, the light of the moon changed the color gradually from a light rose to a silver glow. It was perhaps the most beautiful sight I have yet had the pleasure to watch. <BR>

Thanks for your responses. Bob, you are an inspiration! I will be going with my mother, who is 66 and in pretty good condition.

After you decide where you would like to go, let me know. There may be some trails to suggest you NOT take. <BR>There is one that descends from the heights above Saas Fee that is so steep as to be dangerous, and you cannot see very much. I can suggest some others that might not be the best investment of your hiking time. And I can suggest some that are! <BR>