The Aletsch Gletscher - Hiding From Hot Summer Days
The Altesch Glacier, part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, is the Alps largest glacier. The Great Aletsch Glacier is 20 km long (2018) and is a receiding Glacier like most glaciers in the world today. This particular glacier is shrinking by up to 50 metres in length each year.
I wanted to take a closer look at this fascinating perpetual ice and its history. No better time of the year than mid-summer to go on this fresh adventure. So I booked a 6 hour tour with Bergsteigerzentrum for 90chf at the beginning of August. We met our guide in Fiesch right at the Talstation at 8:15 AM. After taking the Gondola to Fiescheralp, we started walking towards the glacier.
Start of the hike on our way through the Tälligrattunnel towards Märjelensee
Arrival at Märjelensee (2350m) for a short break and to get our spikes lended by our mountain guide
Geared up with spikes for the walk
Getting closer to the Gletscher after our short brake at the Gletscherstube…
Once we got closer to the Gletscher, it was time to get our spikes and harness on.
First view up close of the ice and its bluishwhite color
We then started a 1.5 hour walk to our picnic spot on the glacier where the air was pretty fresh as you can tell by my outfit. It was only 10°C, much different from the 38 it was down in the valleys on this hot August day. After our 30 minute lunch break, we finished our loop back to Märjelensee where we parted ways with our mountain guide.
We decided to take a different route back to Fiescheralp a bit more to the South. We got to Fiescheralp slightly too late to go to the Eggishorn with the gondola so we decided to stay at the Caffé to get a drink before heading back.
I highly recommend this hike (and adventure) to anyone who thinks mountain hikes are too boring. I assure you, jumping over these ice holes will spice things up for you !
If you want to observe the immensity of the glacier without walking on it, you can do so from the Eggishorn, the Bettmerhorn, the Mossfluh or the Hohfluh which are all located in Wallis. These points can be accessed using the Aletsch Discovery Pass.
