August | 2015 | Mid-Career Meander

It took about two hours to reach Hahnenmoospass (1956m) from Adelboden. It seemed like there was a gondola station every which way going to every mountain top in the area. There were cars parked at the top. This pass is the lowest on the Via Alpina and is quite accessable. Just beyond the pass and up the hill a bit, about fifty or so mini aircraft pilots controlled their humming, buzzing, and soaring toy aricrafts around and over the pass. It was 11:15 and the clouds were rolling in, and I debated whether I should just take the main route right down to Lenk and arrive in town in less than 2 hours. But with some time before noon to spare, I figured I’d scooch over to Pommernpass (2055m), and if the weather didn’t worsen, dart up the Regensboldhorn (2192m) for a good view. Impressive indeed was the view from the top, which I reached at about 11:50. Only a few spots of snow are left amongst the surrounding 3,000 meter peaks, some of which may have fallen last night, seeing how it got down into the high 30s in Adelboden last night.

The way down was a leisurely descent passing high alpine farms. Stepping in a cow paddie or two along the way gave way to relief when later I had to force myself across a mountain stream that crossed a gravel road and wash those puppies off. The Simmenfalls were mighty indeed, dropping a good 160 meters through the woods close to the top end of treeline. After a long flat walk from the bottom of the falls into Lenk, I arrived at my hostel around 4:00 PM, a shade under 7 hours afer beginning the day. A good shower and a ziti dinner later, I am ready to relax in my empty dorm room and recover for tomorrow. 8 hours to Gsteig to complete stage 13. Only 3 days left until the end.

Starting off this morning in Adelboden at 9:08 sharp

See that mass of buildings way in the distance that looks like a decent-sized town? That’s Adelboden from the top of Regensboldhorn, about 850 meters above.

From Regensboldhorn looking down at Hahnenmosspass and the top of the gondola

That’s Wildstrubel at 3244m, hard to believe, but it’s a good 1,000 meters lower than the Jungfrau I passed a few stages ago. Oh, and that’s snow you are looking at – August 20th above 3,000 meters in Switzerland.