“Klettersteig” is the German word for “Via Ferrata”. I already have a post labeled “Via Ferrata” which was in Italy. Since this story is about a via ferrata in a German-speaking country, well, it just fits nicely. After finding a brochure of a via ferrata in the beautiful Lauterbrunnen valley, I floated the idea to Pat and Ruth Ann as an activity for our “day off”. I was surprised; Pat was into the idea while Ruth Ann elected to go to the gardens. Pat’s no fan of heights, but this would be a good experience to face those fears in a safe way and have a good story to tell to the folks back in Georgia.

(Above) 1) The way is shut. One must naught but open the door to experience the via ferrata. Acutally, beyond the door, there’s a good bit of hiking along a forested trail before you get to the fun stuff. 2) The terrain steepens above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. 3) A curious Chamois checks us out.

This via ferrata traverses the high cliffs above the Lauterbrunnen valley between Muerren and Gimmelwald. It’s a fantastic position with great views into the valley, certainly one of the most beautiful in the world. For the most part, it’s quite easy. The majority of it is over easy terrain, often just a path in the forest just above the cliff. However, the via ferrata features four sections that required calm nerves and steady feet, which I’ll list in reverse-difficulty order:

4) The Ladders – The ladder section on this via ferrata wasn’t as steep or long as the one in Italy, but it does require that you keep your cool. The first section of ladders begin low angle with a bit of grassy “buffer areas” before the big drop off. Later, the ladders steepen, become vertical, and go over a fifty-foot cliff.

(Above) 1) The ladders begin to steepen 2) Looking back on the steepest section

3) The Wire Bridge – There are actually two wire bridges, a small one over a small cleft, and a longer one over a bigger gorge. The larger one is easy, but can get a little wobbly in the middle. The most secure method is to step with your first foot, and slide the second.

(Above) The wire bridge, over a small waterfall, becomes shaky in the middle. 2) Steady…steady…

2) The Exposed Rungs – A section of the via ferrata traverses over hugely exposed cliffs with drops straight to the valley floor. It’s not very long, but the downward traverse feels a little awkward.

(Above) 1) Can’t beat the views of the valley because…2&3) …it’s straight down!

1) The “Nepal Bridge” – To me, this was the scariest part of the via ferrata. Pat believes my #1 and 2 positions should be switched. I thought this was the most challenging part because it’s quite wobbly and it’s very long, almost 300 feet. Because of the length, the shakiness is multiplied, either end is quite steep, and the support wires, which can be used to steady yourself in the middle, are out of reach for the first thirty feet or so.

(Above) 1) It’s a long way…nearly a football field length. 2) Pat nears the finish line relieved! 3) Passersby in the cable car waved to us. 4) Finally, a view of the bridge from a cable car high above.

(Above) Neat panorama of the bridge. Of course…looong way down.

I have to credit Pat for finishing the whole route. Others that we saw bailed out before the finale – the grand Nepal bridge. I took Ruth Ann’s camera along and snapped tons of pictures along the way.

En route back to Grindelwald, we made a side trip stop on the other side of the valley wall at the town of Wengen, a village I’d always wanted to visit ever since I saw a view from there on the cover of one of my world atlases. During this trip to Switzerland, I discovered that the “Valley of Waterfalls” was better known as the Lauterbrunnen valley, and once I got a birds eye look at the area, I knew this fantastic view spot, perhaps the best in all of Switzerland, in my opinion, is the village of Wengen. I snapped the very same picture on the cover of my atlas, turned it into a panorama too.

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