EIGER-TRAIL WALK (2002)

From Grindelwald we followed the route of our Alpine Pass Route walk in summer 2000 as far as Alpiglen (1608m). Then we took the “Eiger-Trail”, a relatively new path not shown on the SAW 1996 map. 

The Eiger from Alpiglen before the mist closed in

Looking back over Grindelwald to the Grosse Scheidegg pass.

The Eiger-Trail path junction

Leaving Alpiglen this climbs quite steeply, at first, in zigzags and then on a steadily rising track beneath the rock of the Eiger North Face, sadly often obscured completely by cloud. A lot more snow and ice was left on the Eiger, compared to our visit in 2000. Several sections of the path cross scree slopes but the path was clear and well graded.  

  The path as it traverses under the North Face of the Eiger

  Near the Eigergletscher station (2320m) was a memorial plaque to a climber killed where the path comes right under the North Face of the Eiger. Luckily as we reached the glacier the cloud cleared to reveal the Eigergletscher. 

The Eigergletscher from Eigergletscher station

There appears to be no significant end moraine as the valley is too steep.The time taken from Alpiglen was just under 3 hours.  Both the Mönch and the Jungfrau were visible, although their summits were not totally clear. After visiting the station restaurant we headed down the path to Kleine Scheidegg reached about 30 minutes later. The poor weather ensured it was nowhere near as busy as in our visit in 2000, although the Alpenhorn was still being played.  

The Jungfrau from Kleine Scheidegg on a better day!

  We then headed off down to Grindelwald on the Wengenalpbahn.