Jungfraujoch and the Eiger Trail

Woke up to perfectly clear skies, so off to the top of the Jungfrau we decided to go. We took a train to a mountain town where we transferred to a cog rail that goes thru the Eiger mountain to the highest rail station in Europe. Almost didn't make it as when we got off the train and walked to the rail,  I noticed I had list one of our tickets. A moment of panic and a run back to the train. I got back on and there it was on the floor. Relief!  The rail goes thru the mountain and began doing so in 1912. It took 16 years to build this tunnel. There are 2 stops on the way up where you get off and can take in the views thru huge windows in the side of the mountain. The first stop is at 9397 feet, the other at over 10,360 feet. At the top there are restaurants, shops and other tourist stuff and several viewing platforms. The Sphinx terrace surrounds the observatory with a dome for astronomical and air quality studies. The views were spectacular. You are then allowed to walk across the Aletsch glacier, the largest in Europe at 16 miles long. It takes a good hour and a half to walk across and up to the mountain hut where we had a hot drink. Back down, then to the other side for more views. Lunch at the top and then we took the train down. We got off at the first stop out of the tunnel to hike the Eiger Trail. This trail takes you across the bottom of the Eiger. It was a sight to be underneath this famous mountain and look up at the massive rocks. Passed a Shepard with his sheep along the way. It took us 3 hours to hike this to the nearest train station and grab the train back to Grindelwald. It was a perfect day with perfect weather.
































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