The hamlet of Kleine Scheidegg, high in the mountains between the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys, is a destination for skiers in winter and hikers in summer. The small pass between the Lauberhorn peak and the much higher peaks of Jungfrau, Mönch and dominant north wall of the Eiger is a great place to visit for awe-inspiring views. A terminus station of the Wengernalp and Jungfrau railways is located at Kleine Scheidegg. From here, the Jungfrau Railway continues up to the mountain-top Jungfraujoch, passing the Eigergletscher station before disappearing into a 7 kilometre long tunnel through the Eiger and upper reaches of the Mönch and Jungfrau saddle.
Beneath the massive Eiger north wall is the Eiger Run; a ski piste area and sledge run in winter and a hiking path in summer. The sledging route and hiking path starts at the hotel Bellevue Des Alpes, a tremendously historic hotel, and passes along the railway line towards Grindelwald for around a kilometre before plunging down the mountain in a series of winding curves, long straights and hairpin bends. Reaching Alpiglen, the sledge run proper is very popular and offers two routes: an easy route and a difficult route; the latter requiring a decent amount of nerves and skill on the sledge to get down to the Brandegg mountain restaurant in one piece. The last stage of the run is through the forests above Grindelwald Grund and ends with a precipitous slope and last sweeping curve, which always provides just one last challenge to the weary rider at the end of the 7.5 kilometre run.
(If you like this article, you might like to read more from our previous trip to the Eiger Run at the beginning of February 2010.)
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