DAY 62 - MEIRINGEN to GRINDELWALD (Saturday 17 June)

This was a challenging day's walk, involving the climb over the Grosse Scheidegg to Grindelwald. It was a walk we had enjoyed many years ago, and we were keen to include it on our walk across Switzerland.

The Grosse Scheidegg climb - a fun walk in the mountains

From Meiringen, the path rises quite steeply up to the Reichenbach Falls, scene of Sherlock Holmes's famous tumble with Moriarty.  There are a few markers of this fictional event on the trail. 

The path climbed out of Meiringen

It was fairly steep for a while

A plaque marks the spot where Holmes and Moriarty fell into the Reichenbach Falls

The plaque marks the spot

A short detour down the other side of the falls brought us to another viewpoint, and another then and now photo opportunity.

A short detour

Kitsch Sherlock Holmes cut-out, Reichenbach Falls, July 2006

Kitsch Sherlock Holmes cut-out, Reichenbach Falls, June 2023

Kitsch Sherlock Holmes cut-out, Reichenbach Falls, July 2006

Kitsch Sherlock Holmes cut-out, Reichenbach Falls, June 2023

We had a mishap on the way back up to join the path, involving a stumble, a dropped phone and a broken screen. There were a few consequences: notably a change of principal photographers for a few days, and a delay in posting our blog. 

Two Australian long-distance walkers delighted to take on extra photography duties

We continued on the path. After a while the gradient eased a bit, and we were following a stream gently uphill.

The mountains were now an impressive backdrop to our walk

The walking path signposts were helpful in showing the way

We had a couple of rest stops on the way

The path followed a stream for a while

The mountains were now quite close

Australian long-distance walkers enjoying a day in the Alps

The view looking back was also quite impressive

The Grosse Scheidegg climb is very popular among walkers and cyclists. We saw plenty of both throughout the day. 

There were many walkers and cyclists enjoying the climb up the Grosse Scheidegg 

After a few hours of pleasant climbing, we reached the top of the pass.  At 1,962m, it was the highest point of our trip so far. 

There were a few restaurants/ guesthouses on the way. This one is at Rosenlaui

A brief pause on the way

The scenery was wonderful

One of the local post buses went past as we were having a lunch stop

Those mountains are pretty impressive

The path sometimes followed the road, but more often went its own way

Pointing out the Eiger ahead of us

Our first snow crossing of the trip

Almost at the top of the pass. The Grosse Scheidegg is the pass to the right of the Wetterhorn

Looking back down the way we had come

A few more steps . . . 

Three Australian long-distance walkers at the Grosse Scheidegg signpost

We were a bit younger last time we were here - Grosse Scheidegg signpost July 2006

We treated ourselves to refreshments at the restaurant at the Grosse Scheidegg, then started the steep descent to Grindelwald.  On the way down we had views of the village of Grindelwald in front of us, and the Eiger to our left.

Some welcome refreshments at the top of the pass

Then we started coming down the other side

The imposing Eiger was in front of us

Down towards Grindelwald 

The descent lasted a couple of hours. Eventually, we reached Grindelwald and checked in to our accommodation. 

Wonderful views on the long descent

We eventually arrived in Grindelwald after a long day's walk

Day 62 - Bird 

Day 62 - Elevation Profile 

Day 62 - Route 

Day: 62

Distance: 23.79 km

Walking time: 6 hrs 25 mins

Elevation gain: 1,642 metres

Cumulative distance:  1,358.08

Switzerland distance: 279.28

Switzerland chocolate consumption: 20 blocks

Poem of the Day:

THE FATEFUL FALLS

On the 4th of May, 1891

At the Reichenbach Falls

Sherlock vanquished Moriarty

Meeting one of Destiny's Calls

But Destiny had more to say

For at this fearsome place

Dad's phone leapt from his hand

And descended at quite a pace

Just as Sherlock and his enemy

tumbled from the sky

132 years later Dad's phone tumbled

with a sigh

(From Dad, not the phone.)

Sherlock was dead until the fans

demanded his revival

But what of dad's phone? Has it any

hope of survival?

(At time of writing, not known.)