Teacher Trekker

I have stated on numerous occasions that there are countless benefits to visiting friends when traveling. They have local knowledge that is immensely valuable in ways you could not imagine. In my case, my friend knows how much I enjoy visiting UNESCO sites when I travel. We also discussed that I wanted to go snowboarding in the Alps during my trip. She was able to combine my UNESCO hunting with my passion for snowboarding all in one shot. I originally wondered why we were traveling over 2 hours from her town to go snowboarding. There were many ski resorts closer. It wasn’t until she revealed to me that we were snowboarding in Fiesch Eggishorn on the doorstep of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area UNESCO site that it all made sense. Way to kill two birds with one stone.

Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch – UNESCO Site

The Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area was the first location in the Alps to earn the UNESCO World Natural Heritage accreditation. The site was inscribed in 2001. The region is the most glaciated portion of the European Alps, and contains Europe’s largest glacier, the Aletsch Glacier. It is located in central to south-western Switzerland between the cantons of Valais and Berne. It is located in the Bernese Alps and is roughly between the cities of Interlaken and Brig. There are nine peaks connected to the site that are higher than 4,000 meters.

Panoramic View from the Top of the Eggishorn with the Aletsch Glacier on the left.

I am primarily a historian, so comparatively my knowledge of geology and earth science is quite limited. However, I will make my best attempt to explain more about the Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area. The region provides a good representation of the formation of the High Alps. The geology of the site can be traced back to the ‘Helvetic nappe’ when an older rock formation was thrust over younger rock in Europe during the Miocene epoch. There are steep north-facing slopes and gentler slopes on the southern faces. Vegetation and fauna vary depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to elevation, temperature, soil composition, etc.. For example, different species of trees line the slopes of mountains depending on the direction they face. Finally, the landscape has been altered by thousands of years of glacial ice. As a result, the area includes the most glaciated part of the Alps range and contains the largest glacier in Europe.

Poor Weather Conditions 

As mentioned in my previous posting about Snowboarding in Switzerland, there was one major problem we faced. Unfortunately, the weather conditions were extremely poor. It was one of those weekends. It snowed wet and heavily for almost two straight days. Many of the trails were not groomed and closed. Rumors of avalanche were running around the ski area. Visibility was almost zero. I was disappointed that I was unable to reach the peak and see the glacier, but was helpless to battle the power of Mother Nature.

The day we were leaving, the weather did not look like it was going to improve at any point in the day. The conditions remained so miserable that we decided to not continue boarding. At first the gondola was closed, but about an hour before our departure the weather lightened and the lift was opened. We purchased lift tickets to take the gondola to the peak of the mountain. The gondola was packed with eager skiers and snowboarders who are finally gaining access to trails not opened the previous day. In less than 10 minutes we were at the summit. Everyone walked through a building that serves as a lodge, indoor observation point and weather station to gain access to the outside area. Once through the doors, you had access to the ski trails, an outdoor viewing point and a small restaurant that was still closed when we were there. It would have been nice to warm up with a hot drink for a little while.

Sunny Enough Skies Equal Photo Opportunities 

It didn’t matter, because for just a brief window, as I was getting ready to take some photos, the clouds and fog parted showing the entire Aletsch Glacier. The sun glistened off the large ice formation. I was elated. I tried to take advantage of the weather and snapped as many shots from as many perspectives as possible looking for the best photographs.

I actually forgot my gloves in the hotel room. There were a few gusts of wind that felt like if my legs weren’t braced it would have blown me off the side of the mountain. My gloveless hands turned to stone as I took panoramic shots of the glacier with my iPhone. I could barely make solid enough contact with the screen to take the photo.

I gave up and retreated to the indoor observation viewing point to warm up my hands and grab a few more shots. The glass was surprisingly clean and clear doing little to interfere with the remaining photographs I took. Since the restaurant was not open we did not stay longer than an hour and took the gondola back down to the base of the mountain. Shortly after we checked out of the hotel and made our way to the other gondola that takes you from the ski resort area to the parking lot and town of Fiesch, we cleared off a weekend’s worth of snow from the car and made our way back towards eastern Switzerland.

Where is this gondola going?

Conclusions

In retrospect, it would have been amazing if the weather was better. If we had our snowboards, we could have ridden trails that allow you to see the glacier and mountains associated with the UNESCO site. They would have resulted in some excellent Go Pro footage. Additionally, I would be interested in visiting the site during the summer season when I would have the ability to hike to the top of the mountain and then snowshoe across the glacier. You can rent equipment and join a group so that you can walk the glacier. Based on the images I have seen and the research I have conducted, the region is filled with colorful flora and fauna that were hibernating for the winter. Perhaps, if I am in the area during a future summer, I will have the ability to make my way to the Aletsch Glacier for a second and very different view while partaking in some hiking and basic mountaineering in the Alps.

Panoramic View from the Top of the Eggishorn with the Aletsch Glacier on the left.

It is clear that there are many connections that can be made to a variety of fields of study that bring academics, scientists, explorers and tourists to this UNESCO protected mountain region. The local landscape has played a significant role in the development of some European art and literature. The site includes the largest glacier in Europe. This impacted the development of the mountains over thousands of years. It also serves an example of the impact of climate change. The glacier continues to shrink in size and may one day no longer exist. The region is rich in biodiversity that can only be viewed during specific seasons of the year. As a result, extensive research is conducted in the areas of atmospheric physics, biology, climate change, geology and geomorphology. It is also directly connected to mountaineering and alpine tourism, which assists the local economy. These factors lead visitors for all reasons and in all seasons to visit the beauty and grandeur of the Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area.