Hiking from Schynige Platte to First

We did it last summer in mid June or even early June and it was awesome - easily my favorite hike I've ever taken (and I'm Swiss and have hiked extensively in both the Swiss and Italian alps). There were some people on it, but mostly Swiss, ie not very many tourists. My wife hikes with poles (I hate them) and she found them helpful. We hiked from Schynige Platte to First and the only challenging snow/ice we had to navigate over was on the approach to the Männdlenen hut going up the gully below it. We also ran into some patches of snow about a mile before it where the path goes along a very long ridge. Bottom line, if you're in good shape and have hiked on scree before, you'll be fine. An added bonus of hiking it early is the wildflowers for the first two hours out of Schynige Platte are amazing - some of the best I've ever seen in the alps. Just pack enough water and some food and you'll be just fine.

BTW: If you need some recs on other amazing hikes in the region, let me know.

I've done that hike a few times, but always in mid to late Aug. Even then there was a small patch of snow over a bit of the trail. Not a problem, but shows how long snow can stay in the shaded parts.
Another time we were there on July 4 and they told us the trail was closed. So, the later the better, and it all depends on the snowfall this winter and number of sunny days after that. I would think you could Google the former.
As far as avoiding the tourist crowd, to what are you referring? If it's hotels and crowded train stations and crowded Grindelwald, it seems to me that is the case all thru July and Aug. (except last week of Aug). If you are thinking of trails, no worries! The vast majority of tourists venture only a few yards from the trains and towns and I've found the trails to be pleasantly uncrowded almost any day you pick. Allen

I've done the complete hike; this was in September. No matter when you do it, it won't be crowded. You will absolutely need hiking poles, and appropriate boots.

Thanks for the replies!

I think we'll keep our dates the way I have them now and try and do the hike in mid July. We own hiking poles and good hiking boots, but I don't really want to travel with the poles for 6 weeks. It just occurred to me that we may be able to rent poles in lauterbrunnen and that would be a good option. We also own crampons, but that would be more extra weight than I would be willing to lug around for 6 weeks:)

Marcus - we have done almost all of the hikes RS recommends. If you have any others you'd like to recommend that would be great!

BTW - I was not worried about the crowds in the Alps - more the crowds during the rest of our trip. I figured the more of it I could move to June the better.

Well, maybe I'm more foolhardy than Michael, but I did that hike twice without poles and while wearing tennis shoes, and so did my 25-yr old kids (I'm 64). I Would agree, though, that poles and boots are recommended, but just not an absolute must.
As for the best hikes, you can't go wrong with these. I've described them in more detail in other posts, but since you seem to know the area, you can figure them out. I've done them all in tennis shoes and w/o poles.
Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg (this and the next saved for the clearest days, given the panoramic views)
Schynige Platte to First
First to Bachalpsee and back
First to Grosse Scheidegg and down by bus
Grutschalp to Murren
Murren to Spielbodenalp via Sprutz Falls
Murren to Almendhubel to Schiltalp to Spielbodenalp to Murren
Lauterbrunnen along the valley floor to Trummelbach Falls (for a misty day, since the falls are inside)
The last 4 can be seen on this map (click to enlarge):
http://www.gimmelwald.com/pics/gimmelwald/hikemap.jpg

Allen