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
Click thumbnails for larger images.
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
The Tour of the Bernina
Guidebook describing a 9-stage (119km) route around the Piz Bernina massif in the Alps on the Swiss-Italian border near St Moritz, and the 8-stage (94km) Alta Via Valmalenco exploring the Valmalenco valley, in the shadow of Monte Disgrazia. The Tour of the Bernina is suitable for first-time trekkers but the Alta Via needs some experience.
Walking in the Bernese Oberland
This walking guidebook to the Bernese Oberland describes 113 day walks. Routes range from 2 to 24km and offer breathtaking scenery of the classic Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, around Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Gsteig and Meiringen. There are routes suitable for all abilities from short flat walks to adventurous treks.