Hut Inspection Mittellegi Hut, June 1, 2023

125 Years of the Grindelwald Mountain Guide Association

Wooden cabin on a snow-covered mountain peak with surrounding snowy mountains in the background.
Wooden cabin on a snow-covered mountain peak with surrounding snowy mountains in the background.

Like my last trip, today's adventure also begins with a flight. This time, it's a helicopter ride up towards the Eiger. I'm accompanying Melanie, Fritz, Anja, and Hampi to the Mittellegi Hut. From the helicopter, we can already see that there's still a lot of snow around the hut, and I'm excited to get to work.

Today is the day: Melanie, the new hut warden, sees her new workplace and home at 3,355 m (11,007 ft) above sea level for the first time. After the initial overwhelm and joy, it's clear: the hut has weathered the winter well and is found in the same condition as last fall. Fritz, the hut manager & mountain guide, and Hampi, also a mountain guide, are busy shoveling snow right after arrival and ensuring that meltwater from the roof is collected in the water tank under the hut. Meanwhile, Melanie and Anja are busy taking inventory and making the beds. After all, when it opens in a month, guests should want for nothing.

While shoveling snow and walking around the hut, I support the four and get my first close-up experience with the Eiger. Otherwise, I enjoy the beautiful view and keep an eye on the weather. I make sure to memorize the route to the Eiger summit, eagerly anticipating tackling it this summer. Tired and happy, I return to the valley in the evening and rest up for my next adventure. Where will it take me next?

Snow-covered mountain landscape with rock walls and glaciers under a blue sky.
Person in front of a mountain hut in the snow, surrounded by snow-covered mountains, in sunny weather.
Snow-covered mountain landscape in the Alps with steep peaks and clear sky in the background.
People in outdoor clothing are opening a wooden door at a mountain hut, with snow-covered mountains in the background.
Snow-covered mountain peak in the Alps with steep rock walls and clouds in the background.
Snow-covered mountain peak under a blue sky with clouds in the background.
Person in purple jacket stands in front of snow-covered mountain in the Alps, blue sky in the background.
Person on snow-covered mountain next to cabin, holding onto railing.
Person on snow-covered mountain with sunglasses and ice axe, surrounded by clouds.
Wooden cabin in snowy mountains with snowdrifts, clouds, and mountain peaks in the background.
Two people with sunglasses are looking out of a wooden window at the snow-covered mountains.
Person in a green jacket stands in the snow in front of a metal door, surrounded by high snow walls.
Ice pick and shovel are stuck in the snow in front of a mountain hut with a wooden facade.
Wooden cabin on a snow-covered mountain peak with surrounding snowy mountains in the background.
Three people in winter clothing with sunglasses are standing on a wooden platform in the snow.
Two people are standing in winter clothing next to a snow-covered building in the mountains.
Wooden cabin in snowy mountains, person in red jacket standing on snow, blue sky in the background.
Mountain Guide Association Grindelwald Anniversary Ice Axe

125 Years of the Grindelwald Mountain Guides Association

An anniversary, a forged ice a...