Kandersteg Day 9

25 Jul 2009

"Super Hike, Day 1" - Hike to the Blumensalphütte

 

This was quite an adventure -- the start of the "Famous Mr. White 2 huts in 2 days hike".  We left Kandersteg by train and transferred to a bus for the "steepest bus ride in the Swiss post-bus system".  The ride was not mislabled.  The bus went up and up and up . . . then we had to switch to a smaller bus as the switchbacks got tighter and tighter.  Eventually we reached Griesalp -- a town that consisted of one restaurant.  From there we began our climb to the Blumensalphutte.  This was a hike that was even described by the Swiss as being "a bit steep".  We found out why.  Check out the pictures.  But we all made it to the hut . . . some a little faster than others.  Had a great dinner.  This has to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Alpine hut in Switzerland.  It could accomodate about 120 people for the night and it was packed on this Saturday night.  We played games, enjoyed the scenery and went to sleep thinking about the rest of the adventure that lay ahead.

Catching the train in Kandersteg                                                                    Zipping along

The bus ride . . . getting close to the summit -- would not be a good idea to meet a vehicle coming the other way at this point

Arrival in Griesalp

Ready to go                                                                                                 Along the route -- we're still below the tree line at this point

Huffin' and puffin'                                                                                            Lunch break

Scenery was great                                                                                          Scruffy looking Scoutmaster

up, up, up                                                     Alpine flowers

"The Ramp" -- just keeps going up - top is somewhere up in the clouds

                                                               A true "stairway to heaven"

We popped out of the clouds as we go closer to the hut

The hut, at last                                           Time for some games

                                                                                                                            Ready for dinner

 

Moon over the mountains                                                                               Looking down on the clouds

Night falls over the hut