Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, Switzerland

The weather today was supposed to be cloudy to partly sunny with hazy visibility. When we looked at the Jungfrau, it was in clouds. Checking the local panorama station on the TV in the breakfast room; we noticed it was clear and sunny above the clouds so we headed to Männlichen.

We took a bus to Wilderswil to catch the train up to Lauterbrunnen and then up to Wengen. The train to Interlaken Ost was canceled for some reason. On our way to the cable car up to Männlichen, we spotted Kathy working at the Swiss Made Shop. We had time before the next cable car went up the mountain so we went in and chatted for a while. She told me my shipment was on the way.

We usually hike to the peak but today we decided to hike to Kleine Scheidegg. It’s easy walking over 4.7 km, gradually descending about 200m in elevation. The trail is a wide dirt path, mostly flat with mild ups and downs and some bumpy sections. They have put up rope to hang onto in a couple steep sections.

From Männlichen (2230 m) you follow the easy and impressive high-Alpine trail in a southerly direction. Walking at the same level along the east flank of the Tschuggen, you reach Honegg and take the loop skirting the rocky lower slopes of the Lauberhorn to Rotstöcki, from where it’s only a short distance to Kleine Scheidegg (2061 m).

Kleine Scheidegg is the terminating station of the Wengernalp Railway and the departure point of the Jungfrau Railway to the Jungfraujoch.

This lovely hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg winds along the mountains below the Jungfrau, giving you sweeping views of the the whole Jungfrau region including the glaciers and famous peaks, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. So beautiful!

While many of the trails in this region are quite steep and difficult, this trail is easy enough for little hikers in training and is also manageable with an all-terrain stroller. Kids love the big playground at Männlichen with swings, slides, trampolines and other amusements.

Of course, this trail is a popular choice for tourists and can be crowded on sunny summer weekends. But .....you won’t mind so much because the views are so amazing!!!

View from Männlichen looking down at Wengen

Looking from Wengen up to Männlichen

Michael wanted us to try this. Really????

Usually we walk to the peak at Männlichen. Today, we went the opposite way toward Kleine Scheidegg.

Always something new to see around the bends.

The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau

Hillsides are turning red in color

Small berries for the birds.

Move quickly!

Hiking into Kleine Scheidegg

Pools for reflections

Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory

The Sphinx Observatory is an astronomical observatory located above the Jungfraujoch. It is named after the Sphinx, a rocky summit on which it is located. At 3,571 m (11,716 ft) above mean sea level, it is one of the highest observatories in the world.

It is also the second highest observation deck in Switzerland. The mountain top has been tunneled to fit an elevator which ascends to the observatory from the Jungfraujoch railway station, the highest such train station in Europe.

The scientific part of the Sphinx observatory includes two large laboratories, a weather observation station, a workshop, two terraces for scientific experiments, and an astronomical as well as a meteorological cupola. The astronomical cupola is equipped with a 76cm telescope with Cassegrain and Coudé focus.

The observatory plays an important role in a range of long-term experiments; it serves as a solar spectrometer for the Institute of Astrophysics and Geophysics at the University of Liège, Belgium, and plays a key role in a LIDAR experiment conducted by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland.

The observatory can be seen in the movies The Grand Budapest Hotel and Krrish 3. It was visited by Season 22 of the American reality competition series The Amazing Race on their visit to Switzerland in Leg 8. It is also briefly seen in the trailer for Steep.

Had dinner tonight again at Città Vecchia. Well, it is one of our favorite restaurants.

Started with the mixed salad: tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, butter beans, carrots, radicchio and green and red lettuce. No tossing and mixing those vegetables.

Lasagna. We both started eating before realizing no picture was taken. It is so creamy!

I had a trio of sorbet: grape, plum and lemon with kiwi pieces and whipped cream. Fan biscuit, cookie, as garnish.

Michael had vanilla and stracciatella ice cream with bananas, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

Had a tasty port, too.