Enzian - that occurred to me right after I posted. There are so many cablecar/gondola/chairlifts in Switzlerland that it's hard to keep them straight.

There is a car change at Murren and another one at Brig.

With all your wonderful descriptions, I've decided to put together the plan of buying 4-day Swiss Pass, going up via Grutschalp and down via Murren (walk) Gimmelwald. I have a better understanding about the ticketing segments, too.
FWIW, this is a pretty quick trip to show our 'young-uns' a little bit of Switzerland (we did Rome/Venice in 2007). We'll use the Swiss Pass for the Lucerne-Interlaken train, the Schilthorn day, a Lake Brienz+Ballenberg day, and the train from Interlaken to Zurich (fly out the next day). Even with the 50% supplement for Schilthorn and the couple other train tickets we'll need, there will be a savings buying the Pass (vs. paying full fare). I could save some more with the Half-Fare card but I really hate buying all those tickets. So - 'happy medium' for me!

Sounds like a good plan Travelnut. The Swiss Pass definitely has convenience on it's side. I had to show my husband the numbers to convince him the Half Fare Card was going to save us money over the Swiss Pass this time. He keeps grumbling about having to purchase tickets, but at an estimated savings of $250 between the two of us, I think he'll get over it.

Travelnut---the 4-day pass ($192 for the Saverpass for 2 or more traveling together) is a good plan. You can mix it up on your Schilthorn day, walking the portions you like (Grutschalp to Mürren is another lovely walk). You'll only need to buy a ticket for th eMürren to Schilthorn portion, and it will be 50%

And if you kids are under 16, be sure and get the family card, so they are free.

Melnq8---so the Schilthorn car is 4 stages in all? One of these days I'll have to do it. We keep looking for the right weather to hike up and then we'd ride down, but in 4 visits it hasn't happened yet!

enzian - Yes, four stages. One year we went up two days in a row - the first day we had spectacular weather, the second was miserable, but we'd gone up specifically to watch a Swiss Pageant. I vaguely remember copious amounts of Swiss wine that day too...

Our 'younguns' are 40 and 43, so youth cards or free rides for them :)

Our 'younguns' are 40 and 43, so youth cards or free rides for them :)
- - rats, I meant NO youth cards..

About the Stechelberg - Schilthorn cable way

The first two segments are large glass gondolas with yeh about room for 50 or so folks

But the Murren-Shcilthorn segment is tiny 2- or 4-person gondolas - a much different and potentially much more frightening experience for Nervous Nellies - these are also open-air in the sense that windows can open a bit - but the 50 capacity large gondolas terminate in Murren and you change stations even to one nearby.

I think 'longest' continuous cable way may be what it claims to be - but not longest continous cable way with similar gondolas.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1164601...39307/sizes/l/

yikes, if hubby sees this, all bets are off! (kidding)

It doesn't look bad from the bottom, so maybe he won't notice until it's too late.

Travelnut, teach your hubby a little trick: close your eyes, and imagine you are on an airplane. It helps me, I'm afraid of heights.

FainaAgain :)

The 50 or so person capacity gondolas from the valley floor to Gimmelwald and onto Murren or Grutschalp are, as has been said, large glass lifts - any Nervous Nellie can stand in the middle and not have to see a thing - others can stand right next to the glass and be absolutely thrilled.

On the tiny 2- or 4-person (i forget which) part open-air gondolas Murren to the Schilthorn however there is no place for cowards to hide and it's also a long long ride with a slowly moving cable.

We got on the Sesselbahn at Boppard, on the Rhine.. as it lifted off, our legs swinging over the tree-tops, he says "so - <i>how</i> was it you got me on this thing??" (I had no idea it was like a wooden swing with a safety bar)
http://www.bellevue-boppard.de/freiz...ahn-rechts.jpg

I don't remember any tiny 2-4- person open air gondolas on the Schilthorn. As I recall they're all large capacity gondolas similar to those from Lauterbrunnen to Gimmelwald and Murren. I distinctly remember coming down from the top with an entire car of Swiss alphorn players one year.

As long as your husband stays away from the glass he'll be fine. It if's busy, it's difficult to get a spot near the glass anyway, as that's where most people want to be.

Melnq8 - you are right - a picture of about a 20-person gondola on the web site - it was several years ago i went and as the gondola pictured looks new i wonder if this changed after i went - or my old mind might of had a brain fahrt.

Tariffs cableway Stechelberg-Mürren-Schilthorn - Schilthorn
Tariffs aerial cableway Stechelberg - Mürren - Schilthorn. Tariffs from Stechelberg Individual travellers. Swiss Half-Fare Card/Swiss Card valid, Swiss Pass ...
http://www.schilthorn.ch/en/timetabl...s/all-tariffs/

I can certainly relate to brain fahrts, as I suffer from them on a regular basis myself.