Conny Brawand, SAC hut warden
Welcome to Bäregg hut
For me, a day at the Bäregghütte begins with a glance out of the window and ends late, after the last guest has left. In between, there are orders to take, kitchen work, encounters with walkers and a stunning view that I still can’t get enough of, even after six summers in the mountains. But what does a day look like when the mountain sets the agenda?
The day begins with the weather
When I wake up in the morning at the Bäregghütte, all I can hear is the soft jingle of our mountain sheep’s bells. Starting the day up here in the mountains, at around 1,775 metres above sea level, is something special for me. My first glance is out of the window. What’s the weather like? Will it stay dry? Are clouds rolling in? And how many walkers do you reckon will drop by today? The weather isn’t just part of the view. It affects the entire running of the hut. When the weather’s fine, things can quickly get busy; when there’s a storm, the day takes a completely different turn. There isn’t much time to linger in the morning. I check the supplies and prepare the mise en place for brunch in the kitchen. If guests have stayed overnight, we’re already up and running before the first day-trippers reach the Bäregghütte.
Order before anything runs out
What down in the valley could be sorted with a quick trip to the shop, I have to plan well in advance up here. Food, drinks and other supplies need to be ready before they’re needed. I check stock levels, plan for the coming days and, every Friday, organise the deliveries, which are made by helicopter. Administrative tasks are also part of the job, although our guests hardly notice any of this. It’s not always possible to predict exactly how much we’ll need. That depends heavily on the weather and the number of guests. That’s why thinking ahead is an important part of my work.
The sound of the helicopter delivering goods
The first guests are arriving
As the morning goes on, the first walkers start to arrive. Some just want a quick drink, whilst others order a meal or sit down for a longer break. At times like this, I’m a host, organiser and point of contact all at once. Together with the team, our Bäregg family, I want to make sure everyone feels welcome.
For me, interacting with people is one of the best things about this job. Towards autumn, we welcome many guests from Switzerland, whilst the mix of guests during the rest of the season is international. Paragliders also stop off here. Occasionally, walkers carry on along the high-alpine trail to the Schreckhornhütte. What I’ve long taken for granted often seems extraordinary to outsiders. It’s precisely this that leads to fascinating conversations time and again.
When everything happens at once
Things often get busier around midday. In the kitchen, food is being prepared and served; in the dining room, orders are being taken; and outside, more and more hikers are arriving. There’s hardly ever a set routine at times like these. I just get on with whatever needs doing. If something’s running low, it needs topping up. When a guest leaves the hut, the table is prepared for the next ones. In between, there might be an order to fulfil or an administrative task to sort out. The team helps to keep the hut in good condition and takes some of the workload off my hands. As well as my duties at the hut, I also have my six-month-old daughter Elin, who’s up here with me.
Things don’t always go as planned. Sometimes a pipe isn’t working properly or something’s blocked. In rare cases, that can mean scrambling up the hill for an hour and a half to clean the water reservoir. And sometimes things happen that even I don’t expect. When someone cycles up here, I do find myself wondering what sort of film I’m in.
At home in the mountains
When things quieten down a bit in the afternoon, there’s sometimes time for a coffee outside. I grew up in Grindelwald and my parents are from here too. In winter we’d always be out skiing or sledging, and in summer we’d go hiking. When you grow up in Grindelwald, you automatically develop a connection to the place and feel at home in the mountains. It gives me so much in return.
Is the end of the working day really the end of the working day?
Later in the afternoon, the first day-trippers start making their way back. It takes about an hour and a half to reach the Pfingstegg mountain station above Grindelwald. Things are gradually quietening down. We clear the tables, wash the crockery and serve the overnight guests a four-course dinner, including a starter and dessert. We check the supplies again and finish off any remaining tasks. When guests are staying with us, the hut remains open throughout the evening.
When it goes quiet
Eventually, the final tasks are completed and peace descends on the Bäregghütte. That’s when one of the most beautiful moments of the day begins for me. The light changes and the sun slowly disappears behind the mountains. The sunsets in the evening are indescribable. Sometimes there’s only time for a quick glance. On other evenings, I can pause for a moment and let the view sink in. The valley then seems far away.
Up here, life follows its own rhythm. It’s a different kind of life, and you feel content. The Bäregghütte is my labour of love and my passion. It doesn’t feel like work. No two days are the same. That’s exactly what makes this life so special to me.
More Informations
Bäregg hut SAC Grindelwald
Story and analog pictures: Sina Fuchser
Summer 2026
Kontakt
Jungfrau Region Tourismus AG
Kammistrasse 13
CH-3800 Interlaken
Tel. +41 33 521 43 43
info@jungfrauregion.swiss
