Oberalp Pass

It is Thursday 25 August 2016 and the summer is at its best: it should be hot and sunny – ideal to go up into the sky. A colleague picks me up at 5:30 and we drive to Andermatt together.

At 7:30 a. m. we arrive at the station in Andermatt – the sun rises slowly – and hike towards the Oberalp pass. The path goes uphill after a short time.

After a considerable ascent, the path follows the pass road. Since it is still relatively early, there is hardly any traffic. After about 8 kilometres, a little more than 2.5 hours and an ascent of 600 metres we reach the Oberalpsee on the Oberalp Pass.

The trail goes a little further up to 2160 m above sea level. Afterwards it goes up and down through the beautiful landscape of Graubünden. Past flower meadows and cows with dams.

On the way we meet two women who have already collected half a cauldron full of blueberries and pick a few ourselves. Over stick and stone it goes gradually again into somewhat deeper locations.

Photo: Andi Blöchliger

After almost eight hours we reach Sedrun. At the station we stop for a moment and hardly understand what is said at the other tables. We speak pure Surselvish, a Romansh dialect.

At 4 pm we take the train back to Andermatt.