Global Adventure - Trek Across the Swiss Alps on the Via Alpina: Part 2, West

Itinerary Highlights:   Switzerland’s craggy glaciated mountains, grassy meadows with contented cows, lovely azure lakes, and picturesque villages live up to the most charming of caricatures, and this route allows you to sample a full and dramatic range of these delights, while also enjoying the intense physical challenge of six high mountain passes and 94 miles between village hotels, rural guest houses and even a couple of amazing mountain huts!

Your adventure will begin in ancient and modern Zurich in its lovely setting on Lake Zurich with your arrival and overnight on July 23rd.  (We encourage everyone to arrive on the 22nd to decompress and allow delayed luggage to catch up - (hotel and meals on your own on the extra night).   The leader will be continuing with the group from part 1 so you’ll be on your own, but she will arrange all the required lodging and transport bookings and, if there is interest, a free walking tour of the highlights of the city for those who arrive early.  

Then the next morning (July 24^th) you’ll take a train from Zurich to the bustling ski/tourist town of Grindelwald under the looming peaks of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, and walk up to join the group from the Via Alpina East at the lovely mountain hotel in Alpiglen.  On the 25^th you’ll join your compatriots  from both parts in a walk along the famed Eiger Trail and an optional ride (at our own expense, ~$75) on a quintessential Swiss cog train to the Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in the world at 13,642 feet altitude, near the start of the largest glacier in the Alps.    There we'll bid our compatriots from the Via Alpina East farewell and then follow the Panoramaweg to Mannlichen, take cable cars down to Lauterbrunnen and back up to Grutschalp and walk along a lovely scenic balcony walk to Murren.  Murren is a jumping off spot for an optional walk up to Piz Gloria of James Bond Fame at the top of the Schilthorn on the 26th!  From Murren we'll proceed over the two highest passes on the Via Alpina in fairly short succession - Sefinafurgga (7291’) and Hohterli (9111’) – and then conquer the Bunderschrinde (7813’), the Pommernpass (6740’), the Trutlisbergpass (76681’), and Col de Chable (6176’) before reaching the high ridge of Rochers de Naye overlooking Lake Geneva and ride a cog train down to Montreux and our hostel on the lake on April 3rd.    On our last day, August 4^th, we’ll have the option to explore around Montreux (there’s an 11^th century castle on the lake!) or ride the cog rail back up to Rochers de Naye and walk the ridge back down to Montreux.   The night of the 4th is included in Montreux but participants may choose to catch a late train to Geneva to catch flights that night or the next morning.  Otherwise  you can catch an early train from Montreux to Geneva on the 5th - there are lots of flights out of Geneva to Seattle mid to late morning on the 5th.  Find a document at this link with the daily distance-elevation profile and included transport (bus, train, cable car, funicular) for each day, and find the GaiaGPS folder with all the daily routes and key waypoints for the Via Alpina West at this link.

On the majority of days our route difficulty averages 7-9 miles and 2500-3500 feet of gain, crossing a pass (or two) and descending into a valley beyond, interspersed with a few more strenuous days (10-11 miles, with one day of 5200’ of gain to conquer) plus a rest day and at least one shorter day to recover and catch some town sights).    Those departing after the Via Alpina West will have two nights at the youth hostel in Montreux after which you can take a train along the lake back to Geneva and flights home from there or from Zurich.  

On this route, there aren't many mountain huts along our route so we’ll have more nights in picturesque Swiss mountain villages and towns than on the first part.  That means that more of our lodgings will be  private rooms in hotels (4 nights)  though this part will also include 3 nights in dormitory-style rooms and 5 nights in twin rooms with shared bath down the hall (still subject to change since bookings are still ongoing!).   The choices of restaurants and grocery stores will be broader than we’ve had in the smaller villages we’ve stayed in during the first part.   Bedding is provided so we only need to carry a daypack with a sleep sack, clothing, water, lunch/snacks and our Ten Essentials for emergencies.  If you have town-luggage that you don’t need for the trek, you’ll have the option to leave it at our hotel in Zurich and come back to it at the end of our trek or have it transported to Geneva at your expense if you want to fly out from there.  On many of the days, to avoid a long road walk we’ll catch a local postbus, and sometimes we’ll make use of a funicular or cable car to avoid a steep, grueling and non-scenic trail section (some of these choices are necessary so that we can hit the best parts of the route within a two week adventure) - all of these conveyances that are fixed in the itinerary are covered in the trip price.  And we’ll always have a lower-elevation option in our back pocket to follow in case the weather would make it unsafe to cross the tops, or a public transport option for you to get to the next lodging (at your own expense) if you are ill or injured.

NOTE:  As with any extended travel, but particularly in an area with unpredictable mountain weather and changeable trail conditions, our itinerary can change without notice and sections may be modified or dropped.  The priority will always be on safety for all participants.  Exit options and lower-altitude route options will be identified for every day, with public transport often being available.

Time of Year:    We’ll be visiting during the second half of July to early August, when European tourists are only just beginning to flock to the mountains and wildflowers will still be profuse in the higher meadows.  The weather can be hot in the cities and lower elevations of the mountains, but can get cool at night, and snow can still fall at the highest altitudes.  The Bernese Alps are among the wettest areas in all of Switzerland through the summer, with banks of unsettled weather passing through with periods of low clouds and rain, but these periods are also affected by the warm dry föhn winds that can blow through north-south valleys bringing periods of clear skies for several days.   Suffice it to say that we can expect all kinds of weather!  We’ll bring trekking poles for stability and microspikes based on the specific snow levels as the date gets closer. 

Lodging:     One night in shared twin or double rooms in a comfortable 3-star hotel near the train station in Zurich convenient to the local sights, and 12 nights in simple but charming hotels, hostels or guest houses with limited amenities.  Three nights to be in dormitory style  bunk rooms of 4 to 10 people (limited to our group as much as possible); five nights wil be in shared double rooms with bath down the hall;   and four nights will be in private rooms with ensuite bath.  (These arrangements are subject to change as bookings are still ongoing!)

Food:    A breakfast in Zurich will be included, and hearty breakfasts are included on all 12 of of our trail days, while 3 dinners will be included at our huts and guest houses;  the remaining dinners will be at our own expense, either at a restaurant at our lodging or on our own in town.  Participants will have the option to purchase sack lunches for the trail at our hotels/guest houses/huts, at mountain restaurants or in villages along our daily routes, or to purchase lunch food from grocery stores along our route (lunches and drinks are not included in the trip price).  Vegetarian and gluten-free diets can be accommodated with advance notice, though a limited range of choices (sometimes only one option) will be available on many of the days, and strict vegans may not be able to be accommodated at all of the huts and mountain hotels.

Leader’s Experience:   Cheryl Talbert has led many Mountaineers hikes and several Mountaineers and private backpacks, treks and cultural trips around the U.S. west and worldwide, including a private group trekking trip on the Tour de Mont Blanc high route in 2016, a Mountaineers hut trek on the Tour of the Jungfrau in 2018, and a private trek on the Walkers’ Haute Route in 2022.  (cascadehiker12@gmail.com)  She has led over 40 Global Adventures all over Europe, South America, Scandinavia, the Himalaya, Central Asia and New Zealand.  

Strenuousness or Difficulty rating:  This route is rated very strenuous, due to some very rugged terrain, some moderate exposure, and multiple successive long days with significant elevation gain, though there are many easier days interspersed.    On many parts of this trail, the route ascends, descends or traverses steep rock faces and scree with fixed cables or ladders – those with a fear of heights or who are not confident with their balance will not find this trail a good fit.

Participant Requirements:    You must be a current Mountaineers member with an up-to-date waiver on file.  This outing includes strenuous to very strenuous hiking on rugged terrain (up to 11 miles and up to 5200 feet of gain) for multiple successive days, so participants need to be in excellent aerobic condition with good balance and confidence traveling on rough, sometimes exposed trail with a pack, and with the experience and willingness to deal with some discomfort, cold and inclement weather for extended periods.  Occasional snowfield crossings may be involved.  Recent experience with multi-day strenuous backpacking or mountain trekking, confidence on very rugged terrain (including steep scree ascents, descents and traverses and cable-aided slab and boulder sections with some exposure), plus a positive attitude and a demonstrated ability to get along well with groups under demanding conditions, will be very important.  References may be requested if the leader hasn’t trekked with you before, and personal experience trekking at this level with the leader or another trusted Mountaineers leader will be an advantage in your approval to join. 

All participants will be expected to be up to date on the latest vaccinations and boosters for Covid-19, and to take precautions before and during the trip including:

• avoiding indoor crowds and gatherings the week prior to the trip that carry a risk of bringing Covid-19 or other respiratory viruses to the group
• masking during all transport to the starting point of the treks
• carrying 4 self-tests and testing yourself proactively if you begin to experience any symptoms that could indicate a covid infection, and sharing symptoms openly with the leader as soon as you recognize them

If you become infected during the trip, we will help you make arrangements for a separate room (at your expense) and other measures to protect the rest of the group, making an effort to have the least possible impact on your trip while limiting the exposure of others.   We can’t force you to follow these expectations, but failure to make a good-faith effort to comply could impact whether you’ll be approved for future Global Adventures.

NOTE:  Your leader makes most of the arrangements and provides logistics support during the trip, but is NOT a tour guide!  As a Mountaineers group we will operate as interdependent, capable travelers making our way together and helping one another succeed and be safe.  You are responsible for your own safety and that of your fellow travelers.  You must have the ability to navigate on trails with a map and compass, and daily GaiaGPS routes  will be provided for everyone to use.

NOTE:  The leader’s trip objectives, expectations and style are detailed in this document .   By registering for the trip, the participant understands and accepts these fundamentals and agrees to support them during the trip.

Trip Price Detail:   $4700, including all lodging up through your departure from Montreux at the end; all non-optional ground transportation (3 postbus sections, 6-8 cable car sections and two cog railway sections plus a Swiss Half-Price Card, a $350 value); all breakfasts and 3 dinners along the trek.  Your airfare (~$1500), travel insurance ($75-350), extra hotel nights in Zurich or Geneva ($250/night single occupancy), lunches, drinks and 9 dinners along the trek ($500) are not included, as well as the optional Jungfraujoch train (~$75).   International medical and emergency evacuation insurance are required, and Cancel for Any Reason Insurance is strongly recommended - insurance is not included in the trip price.

Registration Instructions:   Please complete and submit the application form at the button below, after which the leader may get back to you with additional questions.    After the leader’s approval to join the roster, please pay the 50% deposit in order to hold your space.  Acceptance on the roster will not necessarily be a function of the date of application but will also reflect your experience and fitness.   A place on the roster can only be held with payment of the deposit.  Registration will close as soon as the roster fills. The balance of the trip payment will be due sometime in the spring of 2025. As soon as you have registered you are asked to complete the Trip Agreement and Liability Release forms at the buttons below.    The supplemental information form is to be completed in the weeks before the trip.

APPLICATION

TRIP AGREEMENT

RELEASE

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Cancellation Policy:    If you cancel from this adventure, you may receive a refund less non-recoverable expenses and a $100 administrative fee.  If you cancel within 60 days of the start of the trip, your trip price will be non-refundable.  The only exception is if we are able to get a qualified replacement, in which case you will be refunded your payment up to that date less a $US100 Mountaineers admin fee.

Consider also signing up for Part 1, the eastern section of the Swiss Via Alpina, and check the box for walking all the way across Switzerland!  Those who sign up for both parts will receive a significant discount over the sum of the two individual trip prices and will have priority in available spots over people signing up for just one of the parts.

Arrive in Zurich no later than Wednesday July 23, 2025,  transfer by train to the Bahnhof, and then walk to our nearby hotel (the  night of the 23rd is included, though arriving a day earlier and adding the night of the 22nd is encouraged at your own expense to explore this historic city.  I am holding the 22nd and 23rd at the Zurich hotel for now, to accommodate everyone who can get there early).  You’ll take a train to Grindelwald (included) on July 24 where we’ll join the group from part 1 at the Alpiglen mountain hotel for dinner and an overnight.   On July 25th we'll all walk the famed Eiger Trail and enjoy other sights, after which the group from the Via Alpina East will go back to Grindelwald to catch their train back to Zurich and the Via Alpina West people will go on to Murren to continue on the West itinerary .   Twelve days and 76 miles later, on August 3rd, we'll take a historic cog railway down to Montreux where participants will have an extra day and hotel night on the 4th (included) to explore the town and surrounding panoramas before taking an early train on the 5^th back to Geneva for afternoon/evening flights home (hotel for that night is not included but the train is included.)