JUNGFRAUJOCH “The Top of Europe”
That is how they bill this amazing cog railway that goes entirely through the famous Eiger mountain and ends up at 11,401’ high.
Engineering wise, it is truly something to see how, in the 1890’s they were able to determine a route that would end up at the point desired. (Remember, no computers, no ability to fly over to chart a route, no fancy drilling machines, and all of this above 8,500’ so the conditions were very tough as well.) It took 16 years of work to achieve it, and today, you spend close to 50 minutes going up in the five mile long tunnel.
But, look below to see why they did it.
Thinking that each round trip costs about $350 and seeing thousands of people going up and down all day, while the developer may have gone broke, the current Swiss owners are doing quite fine with it I am sure.
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| The view from my room the morning of the trip. This is Eiger and I will soon be inside it, literally. |
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| A view from the transfer point at Kleine-Scheidegg at 8,500.’ The train goes up around this bend and literally into the mountain, winding about until it get to the saddle between the two peaks. |
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| Looking down on Grindelwald from 8,500′ |
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| Kleine-Scheidegg, literally a major transfer rail station at 8,500′. Amazing. |
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| No, I am not leaning, the camera is straight. This is the other route down from the transfer point. |
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| The top of Europe. |
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| About as close to a glacier as I will get. |
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| From the top looking down to Grindelwald 8,500′ below! |
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| A close-up of Eiger. This north face was not conquered at all until 1938. I have no idea how they did it even then. |
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| And trails still go higher to another facility and restaurant. You would be hard pressed in Switzerland to go hungry. There is a facility everywhere. |
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| Looking down on the early part of Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps. It goes for about 20 miles |
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| Yes, I am cold, but I am there and still breathing even at that altitude. I guess I should thank the recent Cuzco days as they were about the same altitude. There were many signs in all languages advising to “walk slowly.” Because, taking a train up, you can forget how high you are. |
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| Another view down to Grindelwald, far below in the distance. |
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| Of course you can hike all directions. So civilized. But, you would need to be prepared to hike on snow and I decided I was not. |
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| Nice contrast with some fall color. |
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| I did hike down from Kleine-Scheidegg to a lower station. about 1,500′ down. Of course, being Switzerland, most people were hiking up. |
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| A classic Swiss photo |
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| Yes, even the trails all have warning signs if they cross a track. It seems like it would be obvious when you are on foot, but just to be sure…… |
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| Fall color at the base of Eiger |
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| My lunch stop after the hike down. This is not a town. Just a restaurant where the trail meets the train. After a sausage and a beer, I just boarded the train for the final leg back to Grindelwald. Again, so civilized. |
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| My hotel, I was below the l in hotel. 150′ from the station, looking directly at Eiger. Another tough day completed. LOL |