Rosenlaui - Hasliberg

Via Berna, Stage 17

Experience report

Pleasure first, work second

The forecast is for temperatures above 30 degrees on our walking day. So we decide to set off early, so that we can cover a large part of the route whilst it’s still cool in the morning. That means we’re meeting at 7.15 am in Interlaken. There are three of us setting off. Or so we thought. As Daniela misses her train, there are just the two of us to start with. We take the train to Meiringen – and then the PostBus on to the historic Hotel Rosenlaui. We set off hiking straight away. The first section of the route is beautiful and takes us along the Reichenbach out of the valley. We enjoy the cool air from the stream – and, every now and then, the view back towards the Rosenlaui Glacier. After a good hour, we reach the Zwirgi inn. By now, Daniela has joined us – our walking group is complete. The path now descends a bit more steeply over rough and rocky terrain and some rather dangerously slippery slabs of slate. We’re delighted when the Via Berna signpost directs us towards the Reichenbach Waterfall. We visit the spot where Sherlock Holmes plunged to his death. The waterfall, with its seven tiers, is spectacular, and the view of the nostalgic Reichenbach funicular completes the picture. We continue further down the valley. By the time we reach the village of Schattenhalb, we have already descended 800 metres in altitude.

Once we reach the River Aare, after a two-hour walk, we treat ourselves to a well-deserved lunch break in the shade – and see right in front of us what still lies ahead: the climb towards Hasliberg-Reuti. Work after pleasure, so to speak.

Refreshed, we set off and are relieved to find that the climb runs largely through the woods – protecting us from the steadily rising heat. That said, the climb is really steep. ‘50 minutes to Hasliberg-Reuti’, says the signpost. It takes us considerably longer, as we have to stop every now and then to catch our breath. We’re over the moon when we reach the ‘Miliflüo’ viewpoint. What a view! Highly motivated once more, we tackle the final stretch of the trail. Once we’ve reached our destination, we treat ourselves to an ice-cream sundae at the Hotel Reuti.

On the trail for you: Tamara Forster, Daniela Schüpbach, Sandra Frutiger