I'll be travel to Switzerland with my wife in late September. I would like to do some day trip hiking in the Alps. Neither of us our hikers but we both are in good shape. We'll probably base near the Interlaken area. My question has to do with what to pack. We are trying to pack very lightly. Neither of us own hiking boots. We do not plan to do any advanced hiking but would like to get out on the trails. Can I assume that we would be all right with simple tennis shoes and maybe even blue jeans. I assume we will be allright for the type of trails we would expect to be on but as I read on various sites, they mention the need for hiking boots. For those who have traveled to this area before is this necessary for fairly short hikes on the various trails?

There are several short trails that are fairly flat yet the payoffs in terms of scenery are very high.

My first choice is from the First gondola station above Grindelwald to the Bachsee.
The ride up on the gondola is fantastic. The whole main range of the Berner Oberland, includidng the north face of the Eiger is in full view. Once you are at the station, the view is even better.
There is a restaurant as well as short hiking trails. The walk to the Bachsee or the Bachalpsee (same place) is along a wide, maintained trail that is not steep except for a few short pitches of ups and downs.

The second one is the relatively flat walk from the Grutschalp station to Mürren. This one is reached from Lauterbrunnen by taking the cable car up the steep side of the valley to the Grutschalp station. There you get out and walk to Mürren. There is a restaurant along the way if you care to stop.

A third one, which is a little more ambitious, but equally rewarding, is the hike from the Pfinstegg gondola station to Stieregg, where there is a restaurant.

The cable lift is very close to a large church in Grindelwald. If you are at the train station walk east along the main street until you see the church. The valley lift station is downhill behind the church.

The walk gets a little steep in places, but essentially it is along the edge of a glacial gorge. The views are into the ice fields behind the north wall of the Eiger. The views from the vicinity of the restaurant are incredible.

A fourth trip I like is to take the train to Wengen, walk through the town to the cable car, and ride up to the crest of the Männlichen, that huge ridge that towers about 4,500 feet above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. You can walk to the north end of the ridge where there is a rise of ground that offers fine views of the mountains. If you are up to it, there is an easy trail that leads down to Kleine Scheidegg, which has a train station. It is there that the Jungfraubahn begins its journey up to the Jungfraujoch. You can also take a train down to either Grindelwald or back to Lauterbrunnen via Mürren.

As for gear, the trails are fairly easy walking. I do not like to hike in blue jeans because they absorb moisture and get hot and heavy. People wear them, but I dislike them.

As for a shirt, it all depends on the weather. If it is a bright day, temperatures in the sun can feel very wrm. So I wear a short sleeved shirt of some description, like an L. L. Bean special.

I always have long sleeves and rain gear in my pack when i am in the mountains because you never know.

Some days, the gear is useless. But I learned long ago, don't take chances.
And always carry water with you, particularly on a warm day.


And the sun can be quite intense because of the altitude, reflection, and lack of shade above timberline.

I am not a hiker, but I'm buying a pair of hiking boots for my 6 day adventure in the mountains around Grindelwald, Switzerland in late May. I think it will simply be more comfortable.
The problem that you may encounter is the weather in late September. We were there a couple of years ago during the 3rd week in Setember in Interlaken and we experienced a huge SNOW storm on our last day. It did make for some beautiful scenery. Have a Great Trip!!! Mike

A great website for the summer hiking trails around Grindelwald is www.gofirst.com . Click on the English version and do your planning. Mike

CORRECTION: www.gofirst.ch Mike

OOPS. From Grosse Scheidegg, one descends on the train to WENGEN and then Lauterbrunnen. Mürren is on the opposite side of the valley quite a ways away unless you are flying!!

Yes the weather can turn bad in late September. Several years ago we were up on the Gemmi Pass at the Daubensee.

We found a comfortable rock by the edge of the lake and started eating. With the first bite, a sleet storm blew in and peppered us with ice pellets and rain.

We trudged back to the lift station about a light year away in the slop. Nothing was wet except our rain suits and our boots.

If the weather looks threatening, don't get too far away from your means of descent unless you have the proper gear.

Hi wannatravelmore,

Just a note about hiking in sneakers: they'll probably get wet, so be sure yours can dry overnight, and if they're white, they'll show all the mud you encounter. I've found that the nubuck trekkers from someone like LL Bean or Eddie Bauer work well for waterproofing, and they come in dark colors! They also look good with slacks for dinner or for city touring.

s

sorry --

Eddie Bauer seems not to carry them anymore, and LL Bean calls them "Comfort Mocs." Here's a link:

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...pp&feat=bc


s

I would say that you will be more comfortable/safer with hiking boots. For any walking off of a paved trail for a considerable amount of time, you will appreciate the ankle support that you get with boots.

the slip-on ll bean mocs i don't think would be good for a long walk on uneven ground. they do look comfortable for regular wear though.

Also, as others said, you may encounter wetness or mud.

the newish hybrid "hiking" boots (like a trainer/sneaker but with ankle support and better grip) might be a good comprimise but they are generally not nearly as good as a real leather hiking boot in wet weather. the advantage though is that they are cheaper, lighter and much more comfortable right out of the box than a "real" hiker.

All shoes should be worn-in before long walks but real, all leather hikers take a very long time to work in.

whatever your gear, wear thick hiking/walking socks.

Even picking easy trails may involves some hills. In that case, sneakers/tennis shoes can be very slippery in this situation and could lead to a fall. I know, because I tried this approach some time ago. Hiking boots are hard work if you are not used to them. Find some lightweight day hiking shoes that you like and break them in good before you go. Add in some Thor - lo socks for additional comfort.

You will not need any thing special on the First - Bachsee trail, if the weather is dry. No ledges, no steep uphill/downhill pitches, just a broad somewhat rocky path. I have seen all kinds of footgear on that path, even sandals and flip flops. I don't recommend doing it barefooted! The rocks are sharp.

The Grutschalp to Mürren trail is maintained, and not much more than an unpaved sidewalk. Anything confortable should do, but, again, provided it is dry.

The Pfingstegg to Stieregg trail is a little rougher. Not recommended without good foot gear.

Personally, I would not walk any trail in the Alps without lug soles on my boots. I am not usually content to do just a little bit, and improper foot equipment is very limiting.

I think you will find that once you get the trail under your feet and those alpine views in your field of vision, the limited hiking idea will go out the window.

Logically, improper gear that will limit your experience does not make good sense. You are spending thousands of dollars to get there, and then you scrimp on something that enhances both safety and enjoyment.

You don't need to spend $200 on a decent pair of hiking boots. Most people overboot. My tried and true boots are lightweight, but with padded ankles and Vibram soles. I use them for just about everything - even yard work and casual walking.

I have had them for years and had them resoled them two or three times.