Melnq8

Thank you for the lovely report Ingo. I think the secret to the Jungfrau region is to visit in the off season. We've been doing just that for years and it's retained its magic for us. As much as I love the region, there's just no way I'd ever visit during the height of the tourist season. I did that once and learned my lesson. Of course, visiting off season presents its own issues, with closures, etc, but it's never slowed us down.

I've been wanting to visit the Engadin for years, thanks to your posts on the region. We're thinking about going there next April/May - off season of course - any thoughts for a first time visitor who loves to hike and generally explore the outdoors?

Ingo

Hi Melnq8, thanks for the comments. I agree that visiting in off-season has its advantages. My last visit, however, was in August and even then it was less crowded in Grindelwald and on the Männlichen - Kleine Scheidegg trail. I am just wondering why it was that bad this time. Maybe the first nice days after a rainy summer?

As for the Engadin in off-season: The Upper Engadin around St. Moritz will be pretty much closed down from last week in April on (after the ski areas close) until mid/end May, but the lower Engadin and Müstair Valley not as much. Spring comes earlier there. You should check the opening times of the public spa in Scuol (www.scuol.ch) which is a pretty good indicator for closings of hotels and restaurants in the area (I know they do close for cleaning every spring for some time). The neighbouring valleys like Val Poschiavo or Val Bregaglia (with Soglio!) start spring season even earlier. It all depends on how much time you'll have in the area; I recommend you concentrate on the latter two valleys in April/May and just do day trips to the Upper Engadin but spend two or three nights in the Lower Engadin as well.

I.

Melnq8

Thanks Ingo. That gives me a place to start. I'll repost as more questions come up, as they invaribly will.

kleeblatt

Ingo, my hat's off to you!

yk

Hi Ingo,

I finally got a chance to read the entire report in detail! Any more photos you care to post?

Ingo

Hi yk! More photos to come, it's just a matter of days. Looking forward to *your* trip report ;-)

Ingo

Hi all,

I finally managed to post all the pictures I think that are worth to see. There is an album with all the Germany pictures, same link as above (just added Baden-Baden, Ettlingen, Karlsruhe):
www.fotosspeichern.de/eagle2002/gallery/0/535/0/

I split the Switzerland pictures into five parts. First the drive to Lauterbrunnen and the drive back home from Lauterbrunnen:
http://www.fotosspeichern.de/eagle2002/gallery/0/557/0/

Then the pictures taken in Wengen and especially in the hotel incl. some food pictures ;-) :
http://www.fotosspeichern.de/eagle2002/gallery/0/558/0/

Day 1 in Wengen, the hike from Männlichen via Kleine Scheidegg back to Wengen:
http://www.fotosspeichern.de/eagle2002/gallery/0/559/0/

Day 2 in Wengen, day trip down to Interlaken, cruise on Lake Thun and coffee in Merligen:
http://www.fotosspeichern.de/eagle2002/gallery/0/560/0/

Finally day 3 in Wengen, hike from First above Grindelwald to Bachalpsee and Grosse Scheidegg:
http://www.fotosspeichern.de/eagle2002/gallery/0/561/0/

The pics from day 3 are my favourites because of the clouds.

Hope you enjoy them.

Ingo

ThinGorjus

How many people get into those Mannlichen gondolas?

I thought there was just one big gondola, but, from Ingo's photos, it looks like the gondolas are built for 2.

I don't know if my heart could take being up that high in one of those tiny gondolas.

Thin, sweating like Heidi Fleiss at Betty Ford

rhkkmk

did you have to have a visa to go there?

Ingo

Why, rhkkmk, I am practically Swiss myself, LOL. Don't ya know I live in "Saxon" Switzerland? ;-)

Thin, four max. It *is* a bit frightening for those who don't trust the system completely.

cigalechanta

Ingo, kiss, kiss!

flygirl

Ingo, love the photos! I am trying to get a sense for how the rooms/balconies are situated. Are the ones facing the street also facing the Jungfrau?

It doesn't matter how many people are in a gondola, if the cable snaps.... Sorry Thin!

Ingo

Mimi, kisses back ;-)

Flygirl, thank you. The rooms that face the street are the southwest-facing rooms. No direct view of the Jungfrau. On pic #13, the rooms that are in the sun have direct view of the Jungfrau, those in the shadow not. I stayed in the corner room on the sunny side.

I.

ThinGorjus

I will just have to take a couple of Percocet with a cereal bowl filled with gin before I get into one of those things.

Thank Gucci I am going to Switzerland, the pharmaceutical capital of the world.

Do they have Oxycontin dispensers at all the train stations?

Prost, Schotzie!

Thin