The Bernese Oberland is sprinkled grazing cattle in the hiking season. Photo by Tom Dempsey
We rate this trip as strenuous. You should be an experienced hiker in good physical condition. You should be capable of walking 7-8 hours per day on good trails with some steep ascents and descents, averaging 2500-4500 vertical feet per day at an elevation up to 8500 feet above sea level. Sure-footedness is important and vertigo may impact your ability to do this tour. We cross two of the most spectacular and challenging hiking passes in the Swiss Alps—the Sefinenfurgge and the Hohtürli. On these passes, there are long staircases, scree slopes, some exposed drop-offs protected by cables or handholds, and short ladder assists of about 2 meters. You’ll want to be a sure-footed, experienced hiker with a head for heights. Please note that there are three days during this tour with elevation gains between 3700 and 4400 vertical feet.
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Assume 2.5 miles/hour on the flat.
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Assume 1200 feet of up per hour.
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Assume 2000 feet of down per hour.
