Thursday, September 23th we started with a hearty breakfast with fresh croissant, weggli, butter, marmalade and Mettwurst, a spreadable sausage you only find in Switzerland. Delicious!
We boarded the train up to the Kleine Scheidegg and started walking towards the Mannlichen. It was at a steady incline but not very long only about 4 miles. After 1 hour we could see the Mannlichen Restaurant. It looked so close, but it still took us another half hour to get there. Just in time for a good lunch and a bottle of beer, siting in the sun on the large deck, 7000 feet above sea level.
The first 14 minutes are always easy
Behind me is the trail where we came from
Donna enjoying the view of the Wetterhorn
It is hard to see, but there must be over hundred Stone pyramids,
tourist build them for good luck
This is the rock I wanted to bring Brian, but did not fit in my suitcase.
We arrived at the restaurant Mannlichen
The restaurant was very slow, considering they built a new modern addition to the old hotel and restaurant with a seating capacity for at least 600 people. This is mostly for the skiers, because the Mannlichen is one of the most popular Winter sport region. For a fact, last time I skied in Switzerland with friends it was right here.
Excellent lunch at 7000 feet above sea level
Man build water reservoirs, used to make snow, right below the restaurant
After lunch we visited Rita Kaufman, the owner of the restaurant and a dear friend of my brother Toni and Andrea. Later we descended to Wengen in a large Gondola, then back to Grindelwald via Kleine Scheidegg.
View from the Mannlichen Gondola station, with Jungfrau in the back ground
The town of Wengen, the sight of the famous ski race " Lauberhorn "
Eiger glacier as seen from the train to the Kleine Scheidegg
Relaxing time on our balcony with the usual Bacardi and coke.
***
Friday, our legs felt like there in top shape and we got ready for our last, but hardest walk in the alps, on this vacation. Taking a 4 person gondola to the middle station Holenstein, we started walking not knowing what it takes to get to our destination, Brandegg. On the map it looked like a straight shot with no difference in altitude, able to complete in 1.5 hours. Even the name of the trail sounds wimpy, "Apfelchuechliweg" (apple fritter trail). But to our surprise, to start with, we had to descend on slippery gravel and rocks for about 600 feet, knowing we had to climb the same distance back up at some point, because our destination is at the same altitude as Holenstein, where we left.
Walking through the Forest
Clean, natural water from the glacier
Donna needed a rest
It was all worth it, this great trail offers a variety in breathtaking scenery, we went through alpine pastures, flower strewn fields and shady forest. At the right of us the sensational panorama of the world famous Eiger north face and at the left the valley and town of Grindelwald. We also had to chase away some gigantic cows, occupying our narrow trail. At one point we had to clime a washed out trail on the side of a 100 foot cliff. It was really exciting, there where lots of trees we could hold on to if we slipped.
Donna takes excellent picture of the natural beauty
We encountered lots of different mushrooms
Cows in the middle of the forest
on the pastor
We finished our hike just in time, because for the first time in our vacation it started to drizzle. we took the train down to Grindelwald and went to our romantic vacation home, enjoying a bottle
or two of Epesses, listening to the rain falling on the skylight. I even came up with a light gourmet Dinner.
What a perfect day.
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