Today began with some initial disappointment at having to abandon my plan to go up the Hohtürli to the Blümisalphütte and instead descend to Griesalp and then take an alternate trail around to Kandersteg the following day.
Hiking Distance
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Elevation Gain
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Total Time
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After breakfast, Graham asked if I’d like to hike down with him, and I was glad to have the company after hiking solo the past four days.
We started by descending grassy slopes past sheep grazing and down to a moraine ridge, and then down across the moraine left by the retreating Gamchigletscher. Signs along the route warned of danger from an ice dam that formed upstream which will break at some point and send a flood down the moraine.
After crossing the moraine, we ascended up a couple of ridges to an overlook where we met a pair of German hikers who had just come down the Hohtürli and confirmed that there is still a lot of snow up there. When I commented on the lack of accent in his English, one of the hikers responded that he had attended college in the US as an exchange student.
We passed by the junction with the Hohtürli and then began the long descent down the valley toward Griesalp. We stopped for a short rest and cool drink at the Berghaus Bundalp.
From here the route was a combination of short stretches on the gravel road and trail segments descending more steeply between the road’s switchbacks. We eventually rounded a corner, and all of a sudden, we were in Greisalp.
Griesalp consists only of a couple of hotels and a restaurant. I checked in to the hotel, and then Graham and I enjoyed lunch (Alsatian pizza) before he boarded the
I enjoyed a little downtime, washed and hung laundry, cleaned up, and then had a delicious fondue dinner at the Berghaus Restaurant, including a traditional Swiss desert, Apfelküchlein – apple slices battered and deep fried, and served with fresh cream.
