Winter Hike: Riederalp to Fiescheralp

Day at a Glance

The Journey

This was one of my most memorable winter experiences in Switzerland. We set out from Riederalp Mitte under a completely cloudless blue sky, with the landscape covered in brilliant white snow. The prepared winter trail crosses the sunny plateau of the Aletsch Arena, gradually making its way toward Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp.

Setting out across the snow-covered Aletsch plateau under a cloudless winter sky.

Winter Sun on the Aletsch Plateau

Despite the snow, the sunshine was surprisingly warm. We had barely started walking before jackets began to come off. The ascent is gradual rather than steep, but at this altitude the steady climb still requires some stamina. The reward is an almost continuous panorama of snowy peaks and quiet winter villages.

Winter scenery along the route, with villages and mountains framed by deep snow.

A personal moment on the trail — sunshine, snow and an extraordinary Alpine backdrop.

A Distant Matterhorn

One of the unexpected pleasures of the hike was spotting the Matterhorn far away among the panorama of Alpine peaks. It looked small from this distance, but its distinctive silhouette was still unmistakable.

The high-Alpine panorama accompanies much of the winter traverse.

Higher Into the Snow

As the route continued toward Fiescheralp, the landscape became increasingly open and high-Alpine. Broad snowfields, ski terrain and mountain ridges replaced the villages behind us, while the winter trail remained clearly prepared through the snow.

The landscape becomes more open and Alpine as the route approaches Fiescheralp.

A gradual climb through brilliant snow beneath the strong winter sun.

Eggishorn — The Grand Finale

From Fiescheralp we took the cable car up to Eggishorn. Here the Great Aletsch Glacier came into close view, fully draped in winter snow. We stopped at the mountain restaurant and simply took in the panorama. After the long white traverse, seeing the glacier from this height felt like the perfect finale.

It was also here that the geography of this extraordinary landscape suddenly made sense to me. With the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau forming part of the great Bernese-Alps panorama beyond the glacier, I could finally see how the Aletsch Glacier sits within the vast high-Alpine world below the Jungfrau massif.

The Aletsch landscape beside Eggishorn — the spectacular reward at the end of the hike.

The panorama board helped identify the peaks beyond the glacier and put the landscape into perspective.

A well-earned stop at the mountain restaurant before heading back down.

One Last Winter Panorama

Walking back toward the Eggishorn cable car, the views remained magnificent. On the descent toward the valley we looked over the broad ski slopes, filled with skiers enjoying the open winter terrain. It was a fitting end to a glorious blue-sky day.

One last sweeping panorama while approaching the Eggishorn cable car.

Wide ski slopes below Eggishorn on the cable-car descent.

Sources & Useful Links

• SwitzerlandMobility — Winter Hiking Route 842
• Aletsch Arena — Aletsch Entdeckerpass