Читать книгу Walking in the Bernese Oberland. Over 100 walking routes онлайн

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The Haslital has been used as a major transit valley for centuries, and the old mule trail to the Grimsel Pass still exists in places. As early as 1211 the Bernese marched along it and crossed the Grimsel to invade the Valais, but in more peaceful times it became an important trade route to Italy. Today there are no fewer than four road passes feeding into the valley: the Brunig, Susten, Grimsel and Grosse Scheidegg – the last-named open only to local permit holders and buses travelling between Meiringen and Grindelwald. And walkers, of course.

The main peaks, whose glaciers carved valleys feeding into the Haslital, are located in a great arc to the south, east and northeast. Titlis (3238m) heads both the lovely Gental and the Gadmental. Then there’s the Sustenhorn (3503m) above the pass of the same name, and the big glacial mass of the Winterberg, Tieralplistock and the Gelmerhörner curving above the Furka and Grimsel passes. To the west of the Grimsel the Oberaar and Unteraargletschers sweep out of the arctic-like heartland of the Bernese Alps, while the western wall of the Haslital begins with the Bachlistock (3247m) and Ritzlihorn (3263m) before being sliced by the peaceful Urbachtal with the Hangendgletscherhorn (3292m) and the great east-facing slabs of the Engelhörner rising from it.