Midnight Hike from Schynige Platte (Interlaken) to First (Grindelwald)
Here in Interlaken, the Jungfrau railway occasionally organise guided walks by moonlight from Schynige Platte to First. I took part in the last one on July 12, and took a few pictures I'd like to share with you.

We left Interlaken (563m) by train at 22.35 and arrived on the Schynige Platte (2160m) at about 2345. The hike, lit only by moonlight and a torch, follows a stony mountain ridge for about 4.5 hours, steadily climbing to the summit of the Faulhorn (2681m) – arriving at 4.30am. We stopped here for 90 minutes to watch the sunrise. It was freezing cold up there, and there were still large snowfields – despite it being mid summer. From the summit it is a further 2 hour descent to First (2200m), above Grindelwald – then a gondola back to the valley.

Sunrise viewed from the Faulhorn summit	Cows on the Alp above Grindelwald. The mountain in the background is the Schreckhorn
The Bachalpsee lake, at 2265 m. The mountains from left to right : Wetterhorn (3692m), Berglistock (3656m), Schreckhorn (3494m). At left end of ridge – Finsteraarhorn (4274m), 2 further peaks on ridge Klein Fiescherhorn (3900m) and Gross Fiescherhorn (4049m)	The dog lives in the Faulhorn mountain refuge. Caught it having a kip. Behind are the Eiger (3970m), Monch (4099m) and Jungfrau (4158m)

Next Event
The next walk is on 16 August - during the next full moon, leaving Interlaken Ost station at 2235. I'm going again with some of the seasonal workers from the Bernese Oberland - if anyone wants to join up with our group, feel free to email me dan@grafsnowboards.com

You need to have a bit of hiking experience, but it's nothing too scary. Essential gear - warm clothes, waterproof / windproof jacket, torch, bit of food / drink, camera with flash. The terrain is generally good singletrack path, becoming loose rock and snow later in the walk. Any decent low - mid hiking shoes will be fine. There are a couple of stops en-route - including one at the Manndlenen Hut where hot soup and drinks are served by firelight. The pace begins quite slowly, but after the initial singletrack climb levels out, the group stretches and you can go at your own speed. The walk ends around 7.30am at First, where the restaurant is opened especially early for breakfast.

There's no charge for the guides, and the only costs involved are those to get up to Schynige Platte and back down to Grindelwald. Seasonal workers with Regional or Jungfrau passes usually get these trips free. Hope you can come along !


[Report and pictures by Dan Graf]

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