The Gemmi Pass is an alpine pass connecting Kandersteg in the Bern Canton with Leukerbad in the Valais canton. The pass was an important trade route and in literature was crossed by Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson on the journey to Meiringen where Holmes later met Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. This historic Hotel Schwarenbach lies on the route at 2061m, this opened in 1742 as a customs house and it’s possible to take lunch here or stay the night.

Nowadays, ski lifts operate year round  reducing the climb and the pass can be crossed from either end. Thanks to the efficient Swiss transport system you can start either end and catch a bus and train back again. Or, like this trip you can take a two days crossing the Gemmi on the first day, staying in the spa town of Leukerbad for an evening before heading to Adelboden.

Tags: Gemmi Pass | Hiking | Hotel Schwarenbach | Kandersteg | Leukerbad

I had a meeting in Kandersteg which I’d postponed from last week due to my flu. I’ve wanted to walk from Kandersteg to Adelboden for some time so this was a perfect chance and the weather forecast looked ideal. When I arrived in Kandersteg it was actually pretty cold and there was a frost down in the valley, it’s one of those steep valleys that trap in cold air so it’s cold before the sun reaches the floor.

I would probably have walked up from Kandersteg but after taking some time out for the meeting and allowing for the fact my flu isn’t quite gone I decided to ride the lift up the first section and reduce the ascent to 600m. Stepping off the lift it was suddenly much warmer, the sun was out and I’d soon taken my jacket and was climbing in shirt sleeves. I’d also overestimated the effects of my flu and I was climbing around 12m/min so I decided to alter my route and take in the summit of the Bunderspitz at 2546m and increase the total ascent to 970m.


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Tags: Adelboden | Bunderspitz | Hiking | hiking in Switzerland | Kandersteg | trekking | trekking in Switzerland | Walking | walking in Switzerland