Route: Eigergletscher to Kleine Scheidegg
Area: Lauterbrunnental, Switzerland
Date of walk: 18th June 2024
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 1.7 miles
Ascent: 0 feet (descent 900 feet)
Weather: Sunny and warm
After concluding this morning’s walk up Lauberhorn we returned to Kleine Scheidegg and decided to visit the nearby Eigergletscher, set at the foot of the north face of the Eiger. We could have simply caught the train up, but just because we could (thanks to our Jungfrau Travel Pass) we took the train down to Grindelwald and the cable car back up to Eigergletscher. There are incredible views all round from both and we hadn’t seen this part of the area yet. The cable car station is a busy place, as it’s a springboard for the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at nearly 3,500m. Despite the prospect of huge views along the longest glacier in Europe we decided not to visit, as it’s a honey pot for tourists, attracting crowds of people and there’s an eye watering fee for the journey
As we left the cable car we glanced up to the fearsome north face of the Eiger and the Eigergletscher (Eiger glacier). Thankfully our path led the other way and we followed a path downhill along a narrow crest of rock (the main path back to Kleine Scheidegg is to the right and is a very simple walk). After a while we traversed the slopes following a narrow path lined with alpine flowers. This brought us to the main path, which is a little touristy in truth, but the surroundings are so awesome that it hardly matters. From here it was an easy stroll back down to Kleine Scheidegg, from where we took the Wengernalp train back to Wengen
Click on the icon below for the route map
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The Eigergletscher Station, which we reached via the cable car from Grindelwald, but it can also be reached via the train from Kleine Scheidegg
Instead of following the obvious track down to Kleine Scheidegg we decide to walk along the path below
Looking up to the Eigergletscher, or Eiger Glacier
Gilly sets off along the path
Whatever your destination, there's no choice of paths here for ordinary walkers
Murren on the far side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley
An easier path through a meadow appeared on our right, so we cut across here...
Alpine flowers lined the path
Looking back up to the Eigergletscher and its station
We pass by a well located hut...
...possibly a climbers' hut as there's some equipment by the door
Looking over to Lauberhorn, where we'd walked this morning. Tschuggen is on the right
A view back along the path
Schilthorn above Mürren
Jungfrau
We pass through the tunnel ahead - the railway line from Kleine Scheidegg to Eigergletcher and Jungfraujoch runs above it
We pass by Fallbodensee, a man-made lake which serves as a reservoir for making artificial snow for the surrounding ski slopes in early winter
The Eiger beyond Fallbodensee
Our destination, Kleine Scheidegg, below
We look up to Lauberhorn and reflect on two wonderful walks in one day
