Via Alpina
As promised in the last post, here is the story of the five days we spent linking up sections of the Swiss Via Alpina (the Alpine Pass Route) immediately after finishing the Tour du Mont Blanc. Unlike the TMB, this route runs hotel-to-hotel through classic Bernese Oberland villages, so we traded the tent for real beds most nights.
We covered 63 miles (101 km) and climbed roughly 24,000 feet (7,315 m) over five days, hiking beneath the Eiger, Moench, and Jungfrau before finishing in Adelboden. Still running on tired legs from the TMB, we again left the camera gear behind and shot everything on my iPhone.
Every day brought a new high pass. Grosse Scheidegg, Kleine Scheidegg, Sefinenfurgge, Hohtuerli, and finally the Hahnenmoos pass, each with its own personality, from cow meadows to glacier views to the turquoise water of Lake Oeschinen.
It was a good complement to the TMB: shorter days, easier logistics, and incredible mountains. Here is how our week on the Via Alpina broke down.
Day 1: Meiringen to Grindelwald
Climbing out of Meiringen over the Grosse Scheidegg to Grindelwald, with the Wetterhorn towering overhead.
Day 2: Grindelwald to Wengen
Up and over the Kleine Scheidegg beneath the Eiger, dropping down into Wengen.
Day 3: Wengen to Griesalp
A long, exposed crossing over the Sefinenfurgge into the Griesalp valley.
Day 4: Griesalp to Kandersteg
Our biggest climb of the trip, up and over the Hohtuerli pass past the Bluemlisalp hut, then down past Lake Oeschinen into Kandersteg.
Day 5: Kandersteg to Adelboden
One final climb over the Hahnenmoospass, closing out the Via Alpina in Adelboden.
