Meeting point
First cable car station (Talstation)
Dorfstrasse 187, 3818 Grindelwald
Ski Tour Gemschberg
1 day
Good chances of seeing chamois
Varied slopes, long route
4-5 hours with summit ridge passage
Season:
December April
Departure Times
08:30
Key info
Ski touring experience required
A strong skier who handles black runs with ease
Comfortable with 4 hours of hiking while carrying a pack
Overview
Recommended for:
Anyone who trades comfort for the view.
Summit ascent with views of wildlife, a varied descent, and a panorama that will stay with you for a long time.
After an initial descent, we head upwards with skins: varied, sometimes steep, sometimes gently rising. With a bit of luck, chamois might appear on the slope. At the summit, a unique panorama over the wintery Bernese Alps awaits before the long descent back to the village of Grindelwald.
Itinerary
Meeting points Distance
8.5 km
Ascent
+700 m
Descent
-1400 m
Walking time
4-5 hrs
Arrival
From the meeting point in Grindelwald, we take the Firstbahn up to the mountain station. An initial descent on the piste gets us warmed up. We then take the chairlift up again before a swift descent leads us to Grindel Oberläger: our starting point for the ascent.
Ascent
Here we attach the skins and begin the ascent. The path initially rises gently through open terrain before the route climbs over steeper slopes to the shoulder of Gemschberg. If you are observant, you might spot chamois, which are often found here. Further up, we make wide turns towards the summit.
Summit
At the top, at 2,659 m above sea level, the view opens up: to the north, the pre-Alps stretch out, and to the south, the 4000-meter peaks of the Bernese Alps rise. After a break, we begin the descent.
Descent
First wide and open, then through undulating terrain, we finally descend through the sparse forest down to Grindelwald. A long, rewarding line back to the valley.
Whats included
Guiding from a licenced mountain guide/ aspirant guide
Expenses of the mountain guide
Not included
Costs for cable cars and travel expenses of the guest
Snacks
Technical equipment
Costs for a taxi if needed (guests pay for the guide's share)
Pack list
Backpack
Backpack 20-25 l
Clothing
Warm, functional clothing
Rain jacket
Rain pants
Mountaineering or winter hiking pants
Sunhat
Gloves (ideally one thin and one thick pair)
Beanie or headband
Thermal underwear
Footwear
Ski touring boots or snowboard boots
Technical Equipment
Ski touring skis or splitboard with skins and tele crampons
Ski poles (preferrably telescopic)
LVS (avalanche transceiver)
Avalanche probe
Avalanche shovel
Avalanche airbag (optional)
Basics
Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)
Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (minimum factor 30, 50 better)
Thermos flask, drink bottle
GA or Half Fare Travelcard (if you have)
Camera and binoculars (optional)
Snacks
Weather info
General weather info
Weather can influence any tour, and a clear decision is often only possible on the day itself. We review conditions carefully and remain within our safety limits, and bad weather alone does not mean we have to stop.
Make sure we can reach you with current contact information in case your booking changes. Silence from us means your tour is still planned or the final call is not yet made. If we need to cancel, you can rebook, choose another activity, or get a full refund.
For detailed advice on how to prepare for (and enjoy!) bad weather days in Interlaken, check out our weather blog
Meeting points
Meeting points
Activity location