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Winter closures

Posted by on

Hi all

Initially my friend and I really wanted to come smack bang in the middle of winter, but unfortunately we keep on coming across stumbling blocks like closures of certain hotels, activities, cogwheel railways, the alpine slide, Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli (the last two I especially wanted to experience), so we started looking at alternative times to come and were thinking maybe May... but I don't want to spend all this money for a once in a lifetime trip, only to get there and be told that there's still too much snow in May and we can't access these two things. I realise that the weather is in the hands of the Gods, and that can't be helped, but I'm just not sure when to plan our trip for now. We are also trying to avoid mid-summer because of it being a very tourist-heavy time of the year. Any advice? Or are there other things around similar to the alpine slide, Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli? Thanks.

Posted by
8164 posts

Go for July. It does not feel like very tourist-heavy time of the year.
What specific alpine slide? The Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli is open May to November.

Posted by
8164 posts

I would go to that in late June or July. The weather should be perfect for that.
I was in Switzerland for 3 days about two weeks ago.
The weather can be a rainy or snowy in May depending on high up you are.

Posted by
74 posts

Merlot,
There is a reason August is such a popular month for holiday in Europe. The weather is the best!
Like you, we prefer to travel less busy times to avoid crowds and save a bit of money.
We have been to Switzerland in the middle of September, early July and late July.

September we were snowed out of the Schynige Platte to First ridge walk but pretty much all the other hikes were excellent. (There was 15 inches of snow at First) Late September weather is pretty unpredictable. It can be warm and sunny with clear sky or there can be snow at higher elevations.

Early July 2014 was very wet in Appenzell. There were stunning wild flowers but at times we were hiking through small streams on the trail and the mountains were socked in with clouds....no views. We were also snowed out of the Lisengrat hike my wife really wanted to do.

Late July 2016, again in Appenzell and Bernese Oberland, was beautiful weather. The wild flowers were still blooming and, during the middle of the week, very few people were around. We woke to a stunning morning at Berggasthaus Rotsteinpass to hike the Lisengrat - Spectacular!

It sounds like you are planning to go to Appenzell for Aescher and the alpine slide. We have stayed in the mountain huts mid-week without reservations even with ideal weather in July. We have not stayed in the huts on a weekend but I expect they can be pretty busy and reservations will be needed to spend the night.

Late July to early September will likely be the best weather. Go to Aescher and any other mountain hut mid-week is my advice.

Jay

Posted by
14 posts

Hi Jay

Thanks for all the info you sent and advice, it gives me a lot to think about. I guess when it all comes down to it, we're going to have a fabulous holiday regardless! Thks again.

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