1 September 2024 – Berner Oberland
The Cornell Club of Switzerland’s Annual Hike 2024 started with an unusual lake: an alluvial land. On July 18, 1978, a huge mudslide from the mountainside blocked the valley, and a lake formed behind the barrier and flooded an entire alp. The rivers from back in the valley started to fill the lake, first with water immediately followed by gravel and sand. Since a couple of years, the lake is no more and the alluvial land area grew. Nowadays it is a nationally unique and protected area to study such processes and includes the intensive study of rare birds and plants.
The next highlight of the tour was the myth of the bear that attacked an alpine farmer and lost the fight due to gravity. The physics of this event probably does not match modern theory. Anyway, the bear oversees the “Bear Path” which brought us to the historic hotel for lunch.
The waterfalls were a constant feature of the hike.
For all of us, it was an immersive experience into the alpine life (including some foreign animals):
The geology of the area is fascinating:
As promised in the invitation, the mountains are steep and so are the roads up there. This is why the postal car got its own educational hike:
Our group was smaller than usual. And also, we had some last-second cancellations. The fun was still well above average of previous hikes. And of course, a dog was entertaining us as well.
At the return point of the hike, we also enjoyed the dessert and a Vermont Maple syrup. Cornellian James Jennings surprised us with a tasting of his artisanal and exquisite Vermont maple syrup. It has many delicate and heavenly flavors. Later it came to my mind that there are a lot of maple trees in the Kiental. One could spin the idea of “maple syrup” in many directions.
And as a highlight of the day: the weather was better than expected and we walked a little further in order to “experience” some rain. The path has to pass under several waterfalls and as a nice idea the guardian of the mountain hut asked around and found Raiffeisen sponsoring umbrellas, which travel the 200 m constantly up and down.
And last: the witch waved us goodbye at the end of the hike down the steep gorge. The witch used to brew some evil medicine in the pot. Nowadays it is just a pot with circling water from the glaciers above. The famous Postauto brought us safely back home.
See you at the Cornell Club of Switzerland’s Annual Hike next September!