I realized immediately that Switzerland was going to blow our budget in every way - particularly the activities budget. Everything on the internet leads you to "Jungfrau - the Top of Europe" but at CHF 204 each, that was just not going to happen.
I managed to put together 3 exciting day "hikes". Which day to do each hike would depend on the weather ... It's not worth CHF 79 each to go up a mountain for zero visibility.
Two of the hikes: North Face (on right) and Mannlichen-Kleine Scheidegg (on left)
I read to check the weather the night before, but discovered in actuality, Jungfrau.ch updates its weather constantly; one minute the forecast is beautiful sun and literally the next minute it is clouds. The better guide to the weather are the webcams.
Our weather forecast for the next 3 days is "sunny" - so today I prioritized the most expensive and exciting hike. We went up to First (pronounced "Fierst").
Since we don't have a Switzerland rail pass, we used the next cheapest method to get there - drive to Grindelwald, which is where you catch the cable car to the top,
The Firstbahn valley station in Grindelwald
We got to the cable car station at about 11am and had to wait 30 minutes in the line to buy tickets. We bought the First Fun package: cable car + First Flyer + Trotti bike
Riding the cable car to First
Almost to the top. On the top left is where you get on the First Flyers
The First station is at 7111 feet
We came up here to do these 2 things: walk to Bachalpsee lake and take the First Flyers down.
When we got to the top, I climbed a little higher to see the view. Kate was walking next to me and said, "They go to Sutter with me." It took several seconds to process what she had said. The top of First is the last place I expected to run into someone from Folsom. It turns out, both the parents work with Greg (and are on sabbatical).
From the top, we didn't read the signs, we just followed the flow of people to the lake.
This is the view you are treated to as you walk to Bachalpsee lake
Just a little snow on the trail. It was 50 degrees but in the sun it felt like the high 70s.
It is a 50 minute walk to Bachalpsee lake. We took our time.
The trail splits out. They chose the high one while I stayed on the main one.
On the way, we stopped to talk to a couple (in their late 60s) from Minnesota. When the man heard we were in our 5th week of traveling, he blurted out, "Are you sick of each other yet?!"
Beautiful!
Bachalpsee Lake
The view from the lake was absolutely amazing!
After our walk to the lake, we went to the First Flyer platform
Four people can go down the flyers at a time. Greg and I decided to go first. They put you in the "swing" which is like a sling. While you wait for everyone to get harnessed in, before you are released, you are essentially pressed up against the release gate. It can be unnerving for some people (aka Greg) but it adds to the exhilaration of the experience.
The view as the release gate is opened.
The First Flyer ride is about 47 seconds long.
Jeremy, Chris and Kate came down after us.
Getting out at the bottom
Everyone really liked the First Flyers (especially Greg) - and said it was better than ziplining.
Next we took the cable car down one station from Schreckfeld to Bort. Or if you walk, it takes about 50 minutes. In Bort, we picked up our Trotti bikes. Essentially they are scooters with bike tires and hand brakes. While we were getting sorted out, a kid took my scooter and would not get off, and was holding on tight - finders keepers, I guess. Chris laughed at my attempt to get him off, "Deutsch? Nein frei." It worked. He stole someone else's.
From Bort you scooter back down to the bottom (Grindelwald). It takes a little less than 30 minutes.
The ride down to Grindelwald.
The trotti bikes have all the potential to be awesome! We would have like it much better if we had working brakes, a smooth road, and less incline (20 degrees was too much).
Logistics:
- Try to park in the city center lot. It is across from the cable car to First. It only has about 20 spots. Even though the parking sign said all lots had "frei" spots, we didn't find any until the Pfingstegg cable car parking lot - which is really big. It is a 5 minute walk back to the center of town. We paid CHF 6 to park for 7 hours (all day is ~12.60).
- There are many discount cards available in Switzerland. I calculated our best option to be the junior card. For CHF 30 each it gives children between 6-16 free travel.
- Allow 2-3 hours roundtrip to walk from the First station to Bachalpsee.
