Hiking in the Bernese Oberland

The Swiss Alps are crisscrossed by a web of hiking trails that caters to virtually every level of fitness. This being Switzerland, the paths are invariably well-marked, and there are clear and accurate maps to help you on your way. Often, you can use the network of cable cars as well as the various cogwheel trains to access the trails. One of the most dramatic places to hike is beneath the great Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau massif. Here the terrain is completely open, and it is virtually impossible to get lost. There are frequent trains from both Grindelwald and Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg — both take about 25 minutes — from where you can hike directly beneath the north face of the Eiger or up to a glacier descending from the Jungfrau. On my recent trip, I took the Aerial Cableway from Wengen up to Männlichen, and from there I made the easy 90-minute hike to Kleine Scheidegg. It was little more than an afternoon stroll in the sunshine, except the whole way I was faced with one of the most spectacular and imposing mountain panoramas in the world.