A Trip to the Grimsel Pass

Yesterday was a spectacular weather day. Barbara has had school vacation for the last two weeks, so we took off. Originally, we planned to go to Meiringen and go through the Aareschluct, however on the way there, we saw that the high passes were open again. Some days ago, the early fall snows had closed them. Since they had reopened, we decided to go up to the Grimsel Pass and check things out.

On the way, we paused in Lungern because the Wetterhorn was in fine shape for a picture, as was the nice lake.

We went over the Bruenig Pass and started up the Grimsel road at Innertkirchen. There was a fair amount of road construction in the tunnels on the way, but the drive was as spectacular as ever through the village of Guttanen, past the hotel at Hardeck, the Gelmerbahn valley station, and on above the tree line.

Soon, we were at the Grimsel Pass summit. From the parking lot, I was able to see the highest mountain that I ever climbed. The Sidelhorn is 9028 feet above sea level, and it looked a lot harder than it did twelve years ago. Glad not to do that again today.

Most of the shops, etc. at the pass have already closed, but the one hotel/restaurant that was open had a crowd, as it was noon. We decided to look at the Marmot zoo before lunch.

Then, it was time for nourishment for ourselves. Our server told us that after 24 October, the place shuts down until June.

The top picture is the Walliserteller, a plate of air dried meats and cheese served with typical Wallis style bread, pickles, and pearl onions. This was the small size, so the regular would be a multi-person meal. Barbara had a good looking mushroom soup and then had to help me with the dried meat dish. Foods and tastes are always enhanced by high altitude.

A short ride down from the pass, one comes to the Grimsel Hospiz and the actual Grimsel Dam. There has been an extensive renovation of the Hospiz Hotel, and the power company has added a very nice new visitor's center with a wide variety of exhibits.

In 2001, Barbara and I were hiking a wanderweg along the northern side of the lake formed by the dam when she fell and fractured her ankle, requiring a helicopter rescue by the REGA service. The pictures don't show the path from our vantage, but it parallels the lake shore where the mountain river exits the rocks.

While were at Hospiz, we toured the visitor's center, noted the rates at the hotel (very reasonable and open year-round), and watched a working helicopter moving equipment from a project on the dam. Not cheap at about 90 CHF per minute!

This trip can be done without a car using the great Swiss Postal Bus System too.

Then it was time to head for home. Wonderful weather, good lunch, and a chance to see what man and nature can do.