Summer Weekends in the Alps

Last Updated: March 19, 2015 by Paul

Here’s a collection of photos from several hikes I did over the summer of 2002 in Central Switzerland…

Appenzellerland – 11-12 May

For the first hike of the year we (Mike and Amy Griggs, Nick Waddsley and Mark McCarthy – all friends from work) decided to head towards the hills surrounding 2502m Saentis in Appenzell, east of Zurich near the Austrian/Liechetnstein border. The weather was utterly miserable and it rained most of the weekend, but after the winter months it was great to get out and stretch our legs.

Me, Mike, Mark, Nick.

Schoen Chulm – 28-29 May

This was a fun Spring hike I did with Mike and Amy Griggs – and their dog Kota. We started the hike at Fluelen, at the southern end of Urnersee, and caught a small cable car half way up the mountain. We knew there would still be some snow over the pass, but were surprised just how much snow cover there was on the route. We often had to break trail across the Spring snow – good fun, but hard work. The route took us over the Schoen Chulm mountain pass on the flank of 2100m Rophaien, past an iced over alpine lake and to the quaint Lidernenhuette where we spent the night. The next day was an easy walk down the valley back to Sisikon on the shore of Urnersee again, where we enjoyed a beer in the sun.

Getting started.

At the base of the pass. Breaking trail.

Nearing the top!

At the top of the pass. Looking north, with frozen lake.

Kota standing on my shoes to get his paws out of the snow!

Sunset from Lidernenhuette.

(Thanks to Mike Griggs for the photos)

Gemmipass und Rote Chumme – 21-22 June

Another weekend, another hike with the Griggs! On Saturday we hiked south from Kandersteg (one of my favourite places to hike in the Berner Oberland) up to the 2316m Gemmipass, where we spent the night in the huge mountain hut there. On Sunday we headed west up over the Rote Chumme and finished at Adelboden.

Looking back towards Kandersteg. Crossing a stream on the way up.

(L) At the mountain pass – with Gemmidog. (R) Me, Amy and Mike, with Leukerbad below us.

The view from the pass, looking south towards the mountains of the Oberwallis in the direction of Zermatt. The Matterhorn is the second mountain from the right, with 4500m Weisshorn on the left.