Day 10: Oeschinensee

Stats

Distance to Kandersteg: 14.6 km

Minimum Elevation: 1178 m

Maximum Elevation: 2736 m

Total climb: 1233 m

Total descent: 1533 m

Steep climb to Hohturli at 2778m

If staying here, take a day hike up to Fründenhütte http://www.noth.ch/en/randos/frundenhutte.html https://www.oeschinensee.ch/hiking/

Waypoints

Griesalp 1415 m 2.6 km / 1h30 Oberi Bundalp 1838 m 2.7 km / 2h20 Blüemlisalphütte 2772 m 3.1 km / 1h20 Oberbärgli 1974 m 2.4 km / 1h00 Oeschinensee 1587 m 3.7 km / 1h00 Kandersteg 1174 m

Route Profile

View route map for ViaAlpina To Kandersteg on plotaroute.com

Oeschinensee is small so just showing a map for nearby Kandersteg

It looks like an even bet to stay at either Oechinensee places, could be a little cheaper to stay at the Berghaus and evening eating certainly looks good at http://www.sennhuette-oeschinensee.ch/

Train to Zurich costs about CHF38 and takes a little over 2 hours. To Zurich airport it takes about 2:30. Example:

Overview

Where to stay

1. Berghaus Oeschinensee http://www.berghausoeschinensee.ch/berghaus/zimmer/ CHF 96.00 - 114.00 mit halpension (payment method unknown but looks fine)
2. Berghotel Oeschinensee http://www.oeschinensee.ch/english/ (scroll down on the page) CHF80-105 mit fruhstuck (payment method unknown but looks fine)
3. The Hayloft in Kandersteg rates well http://www.thehayloft.ch/ CHF60 single room **No bookings for just 1 night!

For Griesalp and Bundalp, try griesalp.ch for a small list, or see bundalp.ch for the Berghaus at Bundalp. For a high-altitude overnight, try the Blümlisalphütte, or for the hotel and matratzenlager at Oeschinensee see oeschinensee.ch. For Kandersteg, see kandersteg.ch.

For local information, see kandersteg.ch and adelboden.ch, including a map of the Frutigen area.

There are two lodgings at the lake: Berghotel Oeschinensee, and Berghaus Oeschinensee. Both are on the lake, and both are very good. We chose the Berghaus because it is less expensive. We were greeted warmly there, and our room was outstanding (with a view of the lake and mountains). Dinner was excellent. By about five o’clock, the crowds of day hikers clear out and the area is very quiet.

Notes from others

I known there are splendids views (if there is good weather), but avoid if you can Blüemlisalphütte: they have NO showers on a very big and very modern refuge. And NO drinking water (except if you pay them 11 swiss francs for a bottle!, in a building sourrended by a glacier). Instead, they propose you thousands of liters of beer and thousands of bottles of wine they carry every two days by helicopter at stratospheric prices. http://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/gesellschaft/Wasserknappheit_mitten_im_Wasserschloss.html?cid=33333580

despite frigid water, I could not resist a dip in Oeschinensee. Thanks to the hosts of Blüemlis hut for offering lunch and freshly made apricot pie.