Why unknown mountains like the Morgenberghorn are worth a visit too

As it turns out, it’s not as easy to keep up with the blog writing when I have a full time job like it was without one. :) So, to keep things interesting, the main focus will be either on the hikes I do with my friends or the ones I do during my holidays. This recent blog post here is about a hike I did on my vacation beginning of October. Because travelling was still a pain in the ass, I had decided to spend some days in Grindelwald, a popular mountain village just next to the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps. As I had explored the area around those three already, I took the opportunity to visit the Morgenberghorn, a mountain which is definitely not as popular as his illustrious neighbors. Or I should rather say which is not as popular among tourists, but more on that later on. :) Heading out of Grindelwald at the break of dawn, a train and bus journey was required to reach Saxeten, which marked the starting point of today’s hike. Fog had been predicted in the morning and so the sky was overcast when I made my way out of the village. If everything went well however, I would be a good deal over the fog later on and anyway, the longer the day, the better the weather was supposed to be. So I followed the main road for a while, turned right at the next turnoff and started to ascend. Actually I had hoped for a lovely view back to Saxeten as a first picture to kick off this blog post, but there simply was none. :) The fog hung too low and the many trees along the way didn’t really help as well. Unfortunately, the higher I got, the bleaker got my surroundings. Fog was all there was and I didn’t know what lay ahead of me, nor did I get a view back to where I was coming from. Only a few scattered farms gave some diversity in the otherwise pretty dull ascent.

On my way up. As I always see the positive side of things, I can tell you that at least the slopes were rather gentle and apart from two other hikers, they also were completely empty :)

Taking a break after an hour of walking, the trail started to lead me along a mountainside just afterwards and it seemed that the Rengglipass, my first goal of today, wasn’t too far away anymore. Soon that assumption was confirmed, as the slope suddenly got considerably steeper and the sun finally started to push through the fog. While I gained more and more altitude, the dense fog eventually turned into wafts of mist and before long was gone for good. A blue sky above, the sea of fog behind and a beautiful mountain panorama all around me, the dull ascent was forgotten in that very moment. :)

Finally, I also could see the Morgenberghorn and was glad to notice that there was no snow on it. Quickened by the lovely views and the sunshine, the Rengglipass was conquered in no time. Looking into the valley beyond, the mountain panorama to that side was even more gorgeous and another break was necessary to marvel at the beauty of the Bernese Alps.

Mountains whereever I looked :)

A blue and white trail led the way towards the summit of the Morgenberghorn and I was excited to see what it had to offer. At first, it was a steep ascending slope, in which I had to use my hands a couple times. The scrambling wasn’t too difficult however, it actually was more difficult to keep my eyes on the trail, as the panorama got more beautiful with every step I took. :)

Perfect conditions with a perfect view :)

Once the rise was behind me, a slippery path led along a ridge that ended in another scrambling section. Some chains were there to help, but as the ground underneath was wet and unstable, it actually was easier to go round them and clamber up the hill nearby. At the end of that slope, a very short descent brought me onto a lovely trail that mainly followed the mountainside. The top of the Morgenberghorn was visible now and I could see that I wasn’t the only one with the idea to scale that mountain today. :)

Taking a look back while walking along the mountainside

No worries though and the thoughts about a too crowded peak vanished anyway, once I stood upon the summit ridge. Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau eventually could be seen, as well as some other popular mountains of the Bernese Alps. For the scenery that had unfolded in front of me, I found only one word: mind-blowing!

The view from the ridge towards the Bernese Alps. The big three can't be seen on this picture, but keep on reading and you'll get what you're looking for :)

Five minutes later I stood on the peak, greeted the two groups that were there and for the first time also had a view towards Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The panorama in every direction was simply fantastic, confirming me in my choice to visit a rather unknown mountain.

On the Morgenberghorn with Lake Thun in the background

The other two groups left the summit shortly afterwards, which suited me just fine and I had the top all to myself for a while. As it seemed, that was something quite unusual. Having a look into the huge summit book, three quarters were already full and they only had started to write in there since the middle of June. As that was merely a bit more than three months ago, the only possible conclusion was, that in summer the Morgenberghorn was just as busy as its popular neighbors. :)

Here we go! :) Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in full view in the middle of the picture

Starting to descend after having spent an hour on the peak, fog surrounded me again before long and while the first part of the descent wasn't too difficult, the slope turned into quite a challenge at some point in the middle of it. Rocky and wet it was and my hands were more or less in full time use. :) Two times I even came upon chains and especially the second time they were more than needed. A steep rock wall with incredibly wet stones had to be overcome, the wet conditions making the scramble pretty difficult, if not to say dangerous. Why exactly that trail was red and white, while the other one which wasn’t as challenging was blue and white, was hard to tell. Well, once the section with the chains was behind me, the slope slowly started to level off and also the ground turned from rocky into muddy. That actually wasn’t any better, as the risk of slipping was the same as before. :)

The only time the fog opened up a bit, revealing this lovely view towards the Brunnihütte and Lake Thun

Nevertheless, I made it to the Brunnihütte safe and sound, where in summer I would have been able to sit down for a drink. Now in autumn, the hut was already closed and so I turned left without stopping. Walking along the mountainside, the forest soon had swallowed me again and unfortunately another dull part was right ahead of me. Fog, trees and bushes was more or less all I saw during the next hour and most probably the only thing that will remain in my memory, was a lovely waterfall, which I passed on the bottom of the valley.

It's hard to get a feeling across with a sole picture, but I hope this does the dullness I just wrote about justice..

Quite a while I also had to walk on the main gravel road and only when the turnoff back to the Rengglipass appeared I was back on a proper hiking trail. Ascending for the last time today, I was hoping for some more lovely views, but that hope was in vain. The fog had lifted itself higher up and when I eventually had overcome the steep and muddy slope to the Rengglipass, I once more couldn’t see anything at all. Knowing how beautiful the view from up there would be, I was a tad disappointed, as the weather actually had turned out to be worse than predicted.

Can it get more bleak than this? What a difference to the views I had in the morning

Well, there was nothing I could do about it and after taking a short break, it was time to head back to Saxeten. When I had ascended in the morning, I had thought that the fog didn’t matter and that I could see the surroundings on my way down. Well, in the end I saw exactly as much as I saw during my ascent, triggering the thought of coming back again one day, because the whole fog situation simply wasn’t too satisfying. But, at least I had some sunshine, I had some good views from the peak and I had a lot of fresh air, so despite the fog, it definitely had been worth to visit that lovely mountain today. Being back in Saxeten, I was on time to catch the last bus and before long sat in a restaurant in Grindelwald for a huge and well deserved dinner. :)

Highlight of the day: the view from the Morgenberghorn

This hike is for you if:

- you want to scale a not so famous mountain of the Bernese Alps

- you’re looking for one of the best views over Lake Thun and Lake Brienz

- you desire a little scramble that isn’t too difficult (in dry conditions only :))

- you don’t mind to share the peak with some other people

- you’re looking for a not very long day hike that is doable in autumn as well

This hike is not for you if:

- you’re looking for loneliness

- you mind rocky, muddy and challenging trails

Another one which is pretty straightforward. A couple times there could have been an additional marker, but overall the navigation was just fine. You know the deal about the map and the GPS, make sure you don't go without any of it on a hike you're attempting. As there is a blue and white trail involved, this hike is not for beginners and for once there is also no possibility to shorten it (except of course you go down from the Morgenberghorn the same way you came from :)). If you attempt this hike in autumn, be sure that there is no snow yet, as otherwise it will be a pretty dangerous undertaking. To go in autumn isn't actually a bad idea, as you will avoid the "masses" that visit this peak in summer. In the end however, if you don't mind to share the top, the view from the summit is definitely worth a visit in summer too. :)