Hey guys! I am tentatively planning a hiking vacation in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland for April 2009. I've read on a few websites that April is a bad month for hiking over there - something about the snow melting and turning the trails into muddy mush. Has anyone found this to be true? And is it so bad that I should move the trip to another month? Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Yes, April is probably the worst month to visit the Bernese Oberland. The mountain towns shut down to tourism, the ski season ends, and most of the trails at the upper elevations are clogged in slush and mud. Plus, the pastures are freshly and "naturally" fertilized, if you know what I mean. Wait until at least late May.
Posted by
Bend, OR, United States
1167 posts
You shouldn't even think about a hiking trip in April. We tried it a few years ago in early June and many of the trails were still buried in snow. Unless you are planning on staying low in the valleys anything before mid-June will probably involve a lot of snow and/or mud.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Lindsay,, people are posting the truth. April is not good hiking weather in the Alps.
This July we hiked just above Wengen and the trails were clear, but they had been closed till mid June because they were snow covered, and even in mid July one ony had to wander about a dozen feet off the trail to find some snow still left.
Plan for June at least.