Mannlichen-Kleine or Murren-Gimmelwald walk - Senior citizens
Jun 11th, 2016, 10:19 PM
#21
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Wow, wow, wow. Thanks so much!!!
Also, I love how the over-sixty on this forum are still young at heart
Would love to be like you when I get there (the age and the place).
Like I said, my parents don't lack in enthusiasm but their physiological restrictions have drawn lines around them
And, with help such as yours, which gives me a feeling of being as close to ground realities as possible, I hope to confidently guide them through a decent experience.
I am very thankful about the boots debate - I too think lugging heavy hiking shoes might be a liability. Will try and restrict the walking to what sturdy runners would allow for. We are not very tall, not more than 5-5 feet, except for my husband. So, too heavy a shoe might make it cumbersome, especially as they have never worn them before.
The Lauterbrunnen-Stechelberg trail is a new lead, so thank you. That goes down in my notes as one of the preferred routes.
Will avoid the Gimmelwald descent because of the steepness, might make them uncomfortable.
Generally, even after dark, is Switzerland safe? Even if we stay in Lauterbrunnen and return late in the evening to our chalet, will it be safe? The home-owner says it is but what is your sense?
Thanks and my best wishes, may all of you keep travelling for long!
Also, I love how the over-sixty on this forum are still young at heart
Would love to be like you when I get there (the age and the place). Like I said, my parents don't lack in enthusiasm but their physiological restrictions have drawn lines around them
And, with help such as yours, which gives me a feeling of being as close to ground realities as possible, I hope to confidently guide them through a decent experience.
I am very thankful about the boots debate - I too think lugging heavy hiking shoes might be a liability. Will try and restrict the walking to what sturdy runners would allow for. We are not very tall, not more than 5-5 feet, except for my husband. So, too heavy a shoe might make it cumbersome, especially as they have never worn them before.
The Lauterbrunnen-Stechelberg trail is a new lead, so thank you. That goes down in my notes as one of the preferred routes.
Will avoid the Gimmelwald descent because of the steepness, might make them uncomfortable.
Generally, even after dark, is Switzerland safe? Even if we stay in Lauterbrunnen and return late in the evening to our chalet, will it be safe? The home-owner says it is but what is your sense?
Thanks and my best wishes, may all of you keep travelling for long!
Jun 11th, 2016, 11:19 PM
#22
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Hi esskay8,
You could be naked, unconscious, with 100-chf bills fluttering at your feet, at 2 am, and the Swiss would come to you and cover you with a blanket and pin the bills to the blanket and run for a doctor.
Ok, seriously, that might be a bit of an exaggeration -- you might get some bother if you were naked in a small side street in Zürich at 2 am.
I'm a single woman, and I've been travelling alone in Switzerland since the 1990s; I haven't ever had a concern (and that includes walking through Zürich after midnight).
If the Swiss will rob you, it will only be with the high prices . . .!
s
You could be naked, unconscious, with 100-chf bills fluttering at your feet, at 2 am, and the Swiss would come to you and cover you with a blanket and pin the bills to the blanket and run for a doctor.
Ok, seriously, that might be a bit of an exaggeration -- you might get some bother if you were naked in a small side street in Zürich at 2 am.
I'm a single woman, and I've been travelling alone in Switzerland since the 1990s; I haven't ever had a concern (and that includes walking through Zürich after midnight).
If the Swiss will rob you, it will only be with the high prices . . .!
s
Jun 12th, 2016, 01:43 AM
#24
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" I intend to walk from Grutschalp to Murren later this week"
Did you have a look at the weather forecast? The only walks I could recommend for this week are Darnona - Varen and Losone - Ronco - Brissago.
Did you have a look at the weather forecast? The only walks I could recommend for this week are Darnona - Varen and Losone - Ronco - Brissago.
Jun 14th, 2016, 07:14 PM
#25
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The insight about safety in Switzerland is heartening. Thanks Swandav and Tipsygus. The humour helped lots 
Can I ask just one more question, and this is a lot more touristy than the first but extensive search on the web did not yield anything conclusive.
In September, which glaciers/peaks are most likely to have snow that people can stand in (not ski, of course)? Does Gornergrat allow you to get down on the snowfield from the viewing point? We could avoid going up the expensive Kleine Matterhorn, then.
Schilthorn top, which has a steep ride, does not let people get down... And Glacier 3000 is out of our way...
Then I thought may be I will try Mt Titlis in the first leg, but then saw it is above 10k feet...
Any insight on this? We will be based in Lucerne/Zurich, Bernese Oberland and Zermatt...
Can I ask just one more question, and this is a lot more touristy than the first but extensive search on the web did not yield anything conclusive.
In September, which glaciers/peaks are most likely to have snow that people can stand in (not ski, of course)? Does Gornergrat allow you to get down on the snowfield from the viewing point? We could avoid going up the expensive Kleine Matterhorn, then.
Schilthorn top, which has a steep ride, does not let people get down... And Glacier 3000 is out of our way...
Then I thought may be I will try Mt Titlis in the first leg, but then saw it is above 10k feet...
Any insight on this? We will be based in Lucerne/Zurich, Bernese Oberland and Zermatt...
Jun 14th, 2016, 07:58 PM
#26
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You can walk out on the glacier if you go up to the Jungfrau. It is just right out the door, flat and easy to walk on. If your parents do not want to wander outside then they can sit comfortabley in the cafeteria and have a hot chocolate. It has floor to ceiling windows so they can still see everything.
Jun 14th, 2016, 09:08 PM
#27
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Hi again,
And you may want to differentiate between a glacier and snow. If there is no snow, you will be standing on packed ice, not snow, as that is what a glacier is.
I live in Garmisch, where the Zugspitze is. We stopped having snow on the glacier in summer about 10 years ago. I'm not sure what the situation at the Jungfraujoch is -- hopefully they're high enough to still have snow in summer. But if not, you may have to settle for an ice field instead --
s
And you may want to differentiate between a glacier and snow. If there is no snow, you will be standing on packed ice, not snow, as that is what a glacier is.
I live in Garmisch, where the Zugspitze is. We stopped having snow on the glacier in summer about 10 years ago. I'm not sure what the situation at the Jungfraujoch is -- hopefully they're high enough to still have snow in summer. But if not, you may have to settle for an ice field instead --
s
Jun 15th, 2016, 02:00 AM
#28
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Yeah, no snow would be such a dampener. Even a bit would be enough for mom...
I know that September will be autumn so not really the time for snow, and I definitely don't want to pray for clouds to block other views, not that Nature is one to do my bidding.
I am not planning to go to Jungfraujoch, Michele and Swandav.
Packed ice can be so slippery, remember how I kept slipping on the Sonmarg glacier in Kashmir, again in autumn. The ice had turned dirty with all the tourists treading on it, me included. Did not feel like touching it, let alone play...
I know that September will be autumn so not really the time for snow, and I definitely don't want to pray for clouds to block other views, not that Nature is one to do my bidding.
I am not planning to go to Jungfraujoch, Michele and Swandav.
Packed ice can be so slippery, remember how I kept slipping on the Sonmarg glacier in Kashmir, again in autumn. The ice had turned dirty with all the tourists treading on it, me included. Did not feel like touching it, let alone play...
