Allmenalp - FirstWalk 8044
Canton - Bern / Berne - Kandertal
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 3.0 km / 1.9 miles
Ascent - 820 metres / 2706 feet
Descent - nominal or unknown
Time - 2.00 hours
Grade - moderate
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A wonderful mountain walk to the dramatic summit of First, which is located on a steep sided ridge high above Kandersteg. The summit offers some excellent views and needs a head for heights.
Start The upper station of the Allmenalp cable car. The valley station is ten minutes walk from Kandersteg railway station. Regular trains from Spiez (with connections from Interlaken) and Brig. Also bus service from Frutigen. See Transport Map for the Kandertal Region.
End the summit of First (2549m)
Exit the upper station of the Allmenalp cable car and consult the extensive array of signs. As you will discover the onward route takes you uphill towards the farm of Obere Allme. Just before reaching this there is a path junction where you turn right to start an interesting ascent. At first the path traverses grassy slopes but as you climb the amount of exposed rock increases.
Reaching a building at Steintal you follow the path round the back of the building and then start a section of steeper ascent. Like most similar paths in Switzerland, well constructed zigzags make the going fairly easy and quite soon you reach the crest of the Allmegrat ridge. The summit of First is a short way along the ridge and offers some superb views.
To continue this route follow Walk 8045.
Suggested Maps
Landeskarte der Schweiz - 1:50000 - Sheet SW 5004 - Berner Oberland
Landeskarte der Schweiz - 1:50000 - Sheet SW5009 - Gstaad - Adelboden
Kandersteg Wanderkarte - 1:25000
Recommended Books
Walking in the Alps
An outstanding and comprehensive book exploring the walking and trekking possibilities in every Alpine region. Many thousands of possible routes are suggested, from the Maritime Alps of southern France throughout the range to the Julian Alps of Slovenia. Walks vary from undemanding to long and tough, and everything in between.
Walks in the Engadine - Switzerland
A walking guidebook to 100 day walks in the Engadine, Val Bregaglia, neighbouring valleys and the Engadine National Park. Varying from gentle rambles to adventurous high-level routes for the experienced mountain walker. Each route ranges from 2 to 10 miles long, visiting forests and meadows, high mountain landscapes, lakes and passes.