That moment when you hike in the Bernese Alps (Schynige Platte - Daube – Oberberghorn – etc.) at something over 2000 meters, and get over the top of the ridge you will be rewarded with the best view. One of the most emblematic sights of the Swiss Alps. The north face of the Eiger mountain (left), the Mönch (middle) and the Jungfraujoch. (The Jungfrau mountain is not really in the picture far right).
The Eiger (left) is one of the most notorious mountains in the world – its iconic vertical mile of limestone and ice, called the North Face, is the ultimate challenge for many a mountain climber. It’s not that it’s an impossibly difficult climb – at 1,800 m from base to the top of Face it’s not even that high. (The Eiger itself is 3970 m). It’s the commitment it entails. Once embarked on the ascent, that’s it … you need to keep going up.
On the right is the Mönch (german for “monk”). 4'107 m. This mountain is not so impossible to climb (for me yes, impossible) but my brother-in-law did it. And my lil sis is in training for it.
And just lift of this little violet flower (mountain scabiosa) you can see the famous Sphinx Observatory. An astronomical observatory located above the Jungfraujoch. It is named after the Sphinx, a rocky summit on which it is located. At 3,571 m above sea level, it is one of the highest observatories in the world and it is accessible to the public. The mountain top has been tunneled to fit an elevator which ascends to the observatory from the Jungfraujoch railway station, the highest train station in Europe.
Love this shot. @shepherdmanswife and I took the train up to Jungfraujoch a few years ago, and enjoyed a short hike across the glacier at the top. Thanks for the memory! Fav.
Ian