I desperately want to do an Alpine walk thru the mountains while on our upcoming trip. However, I am plagued by a hip muscle that is no longer there and bilateral hip and ankle surgeries. I have worked my endurance up to a Mile and a half walk here at home and plan to do more. We leave September 22.
What would be the best flat paved walk for me ? I do really well most of the time and will have my "sticks", but don't want to get stranded somewhere either. Thanks for your help and opinions.
I think the walk through Lauterbrunnen would be perfect for you. Nice, flat, paved path with great views. You can see the walk here in these two videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xqgW2Ha7kg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI3IH6KJjFY
There’s a bus that runs along that road, so you can always take the bus part way. That’s what I did with my sister who has mobility challenges.
You can also take the cable car between Wengen and Mannilchen for the views and cows and walk as much or as little as you like while up there. Video here:
I've answered in your other -identically named - thread.
Take the train from Murren to Grutschalp and walk back to Murren along the path that follows the tracks. If you get tired, stop at Winteregg and take the train back the rest of the way. It's firm packed gravel. There are not paved flat trails in Murren. There is paved from Murren down to Gimmelwald but it's a 900 ft elevation loss, so you have to be okay with gentle downhill.
If you want truly flat and paved, go down to Lauterbrunnen and walk from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg.
I have worked my endurance up to a Mile and a half walk here at home and plan to do more.
Evaluate where you are at just before your trip so that you can choose the best walk for you. Below I am posting a link for the Grütschalp - Mürren walk. The total distance is 2.7 miles, so you would definitely want to plan on doing just half of it. The most scenic is Grütschalp - Winteregg, but it also has an elevation gain of 292 ft. You can take a look at the elevation profile on the link to the hike.
Whenever I hike a new trail I look for distance, but also how much up and down, and is it a slow easy ascent or quite steep - I take a look at the elevation profile - and compare all of that with what I know I can do. So, along with the distance you are able to cover, it will be good to know how much elevation difference is comfortable for you - how flat does 'flat' need to be?
Breakdown of the hike:
- Total 4.4 km (2.7 miles), ascent of 150 m (492 ft)
- Grütschalp → Winteregg: 2.0 km (1.2 miles), ascent of 89 m (292 ft)
- Winteregg → Mürren: 2.5 km (1.6 miles), ascent of 57 m (187 ft)