Schynige Platte (6/4/1983)

Saturday, June 4, 1983

Marsha C and I boarded the 10:34 train to Bern. Marsha saw Rita I passing the train and called out to her. Rita was also going to Bern. We arrived at about 11:00, and changed to the 11:27 train to Interlaken after picking up the new timetables. A sunny and already hot day. Arrived at 12:20 and went to purchase half-price tickets to Schynige Platte for 14.40 CHF/$7.

Interlaken to Schynige Platte
train ticket

We caught the 12:40 Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB), arriving in Wilderswil a few minutes later. Jungfrau was clearly seen in the gap in the mountains. We walked around a block of neat old chalets and farms, but did not see any cows. We returned to the station to catch the 13:15 train to Schynige Platte.

Trains to Schynige Platte

The compartments went the width of the train with the doors on the outside. The conductor checked our tickets, then latched us in from the outside. We began to climb up past old barns and steep pastures, but no cows!

First view of Jungfrau

Getting closer to Jungfrau

Then through the woods with lots of interesting wildflowers. Nearing the tree line, we saw patches of snow. We continued up with marvelous views down on Interlaken and the Thunersee and Brienzersee. After going through a tunnel we had a spectacular view of the big three Alps: the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.

Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau

Mönch, Jungfraujoch, and Jungfrau

After a little less than an hour, we arrived in Schynige Platte. We first went to the Alpine Garden. but a bulldozer blocked the entrance and we found a sign saying it was closed. We hiked in the other direction past a hotel. You could get views down one valley to Grindelwald, and down another past Lauterbrunnen, where you could see the waterfall.

View of Thunersee/Lake Thun

Looking up the mountain from Schynige Platte

The Schynige Platte Bahn snakes it way upward

Schynige Platte Bahn/Railway

In front of us was the Alpine panorama. We began climbing a hill, finding a bench to have our picnic lunch of bread and cheese, and cherries. Several hikers greeted us and several women were lying out in the sun. One had stripped down to her underwear! We tried to find the other side of the garden, but kept running into huge patches of snow. We stopped at a restroom where I had to get a 20 Rappen/10 cent piece from the gift shop. We thought of hopping the fence to the garden, but a worker was watching us.

We decided to hike down to the next station, about an hour away. As we started down we ran into three guys on their way up, and they were trying to explain to us which fork to take when we got farther. When we rounded the corner, we saw snow ahead of us. Marsha’s knee has been bothering her all week, and we didn’t have the proper shoes, so we returned to Schynige Platte. Waiting for the 16:11 train to Wilderswil, we overheard an English couple talking about a landslide that blocked the way to Lauterbrunnen! The train was already full, except for two reserved compartments. We waited for the conductor to ask about sitting there, and he let us in, and the compartment immediately filled up. The train stopped to pick up several workmen who had to squeeze in somehow. A man in our compartment looked like Prince Philip, and two couples spoke a funny language (Yugoslavian?). I dozed off and Marsha had to wake me when we arrived in Wilderswil. An unbelievably long BOB train arrived, and we managed to get seats in the vestibule. It was just a few minutes to Interlaken, where we changed to the 17:34 train to Bern. Even in Interlaken there was still a clear view of the Jungfrau. Marsha pulled out a chocolate candy bar and it wilted in her hands. That didn’t stop us from eating it! Arrived in Bern at 18:30 and got drinks at Wendy’s. Caught the 18:53 train to Biel, arriving at 19:20. In the Bahnhofplatz, they have put up red canvas coverings at the bus stops. This time the middle section is not the lowest point for collecting water! The canvas has been stretched under rather than over the aluminum struts. When we got to Leubringen, Marsha decided to take the funicular up to Beaumont and walk down to the Personalhaus/staff residence. I walked uphill, and arrived a minute before she did!

Sunday, June 5, 1983

Slept in today, had breakfast made by Marsha C, cornbread with butter, and cantaloupe. We climbed up to the orchard behind the Personalhaus/staff residence to lie in the sun at 10:00 for a couple hours. I found lots of four and five-leaf clovers where we were lying. I picked the bigger ones and left the smaller ones to grow!

Six four-leaf clovers

Two five-leaf clovers

After lunch, Marsha left to go with Ruth D, Ruth’s godson, and Barbara S to marching band festivities in Brugg. I went back out in the sun that afternoon, then took the long way home from the hillside orchard.

Monday, June 6, 1983

Another four-leaf clover.

Four-leaf clover