Trippieness

Wengen, Switzerland

July 31: Hiking to Isenfluh, Grutschalp, Zweilutschinen

We begin our walk in Lauterbrunnen, along this roadway converted to bike and foot traffic. And the occasional motorcycle.

This path begins from the street just south of the bahnhof. Follow the signs to the Silberhorn Hotel, but look for the Wanderweg sign "Isenfluh."

Isenfluh. Here's where we catch the small gondola that takes us up in elevation to where our walk continues. We avoid a very long, steep climb. Per person cost, 8.40 chf.

View of Isenfluh from the gondola.

We set out for Grutschalp. That's the top of the tram/gondola that connects to Lauterbrunnen.

The next five photos are a panorama of where we start this leg of our walk:

Here we enter the "Butterfly Zone," with a few flies and bees hanging around, too:

Back to our walk...

This is where Jim and I had lunch on our walk last year--it was pouring rain then.

And now we come to the mushroom zone:

And then, we're in Grutschalp. Cows' bells ring in the field on the right. The gondola terminus structures are in the background.

Lynn and Kevin take the gondola down to Lauterbrunnen. Jim and I hike another path to Zweilutschinen, and pass through Isenfluh again.

Watch out for this plant. Its leaves are serrated, and act like little knives, cutting legs as you walk by. The stinging pain lingers for hours.

Another cutting, stinging plant; look for the hanging small green parts:

This trail is extreme downhill, and rocky. Switchbacks throughout, from Isenfluh to Zweiluchinen.

The train will be here in a few minutes.

We switch from the Zweilutschinen train at busy-busy Lauterbrunnen, to the Wengen train. Jim's telling me that I'm about to get trampled.

But I don't. And we make it back to Wengen and our hotel in time for dinner.