I took two day trips to the Lauterbrunnen valley recently and thought I would write about them here to help people visualize what it is like in the winter.
December 1 - Grütschalp - Mürren hike. A magical experience! Lots of snow on the ground and all the trees were covered in white. It was very foggy that day so I did not see the wonderful Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau trio but the experience of walking through thick fog and snow-covered forests made up for it.
Details:
This hike is open year-round and is listed as a winter hike from December - April.
https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/winter/tracks/gruetschalp-winteregg-muerren/
Because of the fog, it was a bit colder than usual and I was glad to have my winter (fleece-lined) hiking pants on, winter boots, layers of clothing, and a small thermos of tea with me.
The path is very well maintained, the edges of the trail are marked by tall poles so there is no danger of going off track, even on a foggy day or in deep snow. Although I only passed a few other people that day it was clear by all the footprints that this is a well-used trail.
December 6 - Wengen. The sun was shining, lots of snow even down in Lauterbrunnen now. People were skating on the outdoor rink and sledding down the paths. I have come here many times during the previous winters to take photos. The snow-covered chalets dotted along the hillside almost don't look real, more like a miniature Christmas village that you might set up on your mantle piece.
On this day I walked the first part of the Staubbachbänkli trail as well as various roads throughout the village. I really enjoyed taking photos and videos and just the overall experience of being up there. In the past I have done some of the winter hikes listed here:
https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/winter/see-and-do/activities/winter-hiking/
Details:
Sunny days can be quite warm in the mountains, this is where layers come in really handy, and good sunglasses are a must.
The winter season lasts until the end of April (depending on the weather). The roads were not slippery but I always bring along my traction cleats to slip on my boots if I need them.
Fun fact: 60,000 fans travel to Wengen every year for the Lauberhorn Downhill Race (Jan. 13-15 2023)