Journey to Schilthorn

It seemed like it would be a clear day especially after we checked out the live cam at Piz Gloria which is the revolving restaurant on top of Schilthorn.  We decided to make our way up to this mountain which involves several gondolas and a train.  We took the 100 passenger gondola next to the Hotel Silberhorn where we were staying up to the narrow gauge rail at Grutschalp, From Grutschalp station we got onboard the motor coaches which wind their way along the cliffs overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley to the terminal at Murren.  A short walk through the beautiful village of Murren brought us to the Schilthorn tram system.  Even though we purchased Bernese Oberland passes for the transportation system there was another 120 swiss franc charge which we paid.

Flowers are everywhere

Flowers everywhere including the wildflowers behind Libbie

Walking through Murren past neat gardens

The cables and tower for the Gondola appear at the end of the village

From Murren there are two more Gondola rides to get to Schilthorn.   The first Gondola is the trip to Birg which is at elevation 8,700 feet.  From Birg a second cable car takes us the rest of the way to the summit of the Schilthorn.   At the summit is the revolving restaurant Piz Gloria.  The trip is incredibly scenic

Launching the Gondola up the mountain

The views out the Gondola car are spectacular

We pass the descending car as we make our way uphill

The Gondola making it into the Birg Station

The Birg station is a transfer point to transfer to the Gondola cable going up to the Schilthorn plateau.  On the way back we spent some time here at the station since it has a very nice observation deck as well as a restaurant and cafe.  A glass floor deck gives an unobstructed view staright down and lets us appreciate how sheer the cliffs are upon which we are nonchalantly standing.

 

Glass Deck around the Birg Gondola station

The Valley we have just come up on our way to the Schilthorn plateau