We just bought airline tickets to Zurich in May, 2013. We want to go to Gimmelwald and ride the Bernina Express, do some hiking, among other things. Does anyone know what the weather is like at different altitudes in the last half of May? At what elevation do you think we will be limited on hiking because of snow?
Posted by
Reno, NV, United States
5 posts
Wish the Weather and Snow levels were a known factor, ah but... We stayed in Gimmelwald in May, third week, a few years ago, with Olle and Maria... Key factor is not as much the snow, as the lifts being closed. Lifts up from Murren and Wengen, which both lead to wonderful hiking options, are usually closed until very late May or early June. In May 2013 maybe the last Sunday they may open. The other factor is the very soggy trails left after the snow melts. Month of May is a wild card. But, that being said, the hikes down from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg then along the valley floor back to Lauterbrunnen or the walk from Grutschalp through Murren and down to Gimmelwald are very lovely with views you cannot miss.
Bernina Express is much farther East... can't help there - our day trip from Zurich to Lugano was not so much a hiking adventure. In any case, be flexible in May.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Every winter is different of course. But I was in the Berner Oblerland the third week of May a couple months ago, and a lot of the trails at the higher elevations were still closed...like my favorite Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. All the trails connecting the villages were completely open. In terms of overall weather, I had three days of picture perfect weather, clear skies and perfect visibility. But on the day I was leaving for Paris, there was a big snow storm overnight continuing into the morning which left a few inches of snow and cut visibility to zero....so anything can happen.
Posted by
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
8 posts
As the other posters mentioned, it depends entirely on the winter. Last year there was not so much snow over the winter so we were able to do some hikes in April and by the time it got to late May most of the trails were open. This year we had a crazy amount of snow all winter and it continued snowing up until the end of April, so even right now there is still a bunch of snow up around Birg and the Schilthorn. You should be able to at least get up to 2000 metres though by late May, and there are some good hikes around at that elevation. in regards to the cable car, the one up to Murren from Gimmelwald closes for a week every spring, but its usually in late April. Hope this helps!