At 11,333 feet the Jungfraujoch is a snow & ice world even in summer. It has been dubbed the "Top or Europe". For more than a century, it's been the highest railway station in Europe. Technically speaking, Jungfraujoch is a saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau peaks.
From Lauterbrunnen we took a train to the Kleine Scheidegg. On the way we passed the procession of cattle being brought down from the Alpine pastures. This is a local fall festival; the cows were adorned with elaborate flower decorations and huge bells and the herdsmen wore traditional costumes.
Kleine Scheidegg station is 6,655 feet high. It offers a great view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. They are named for the legend of the young maiden (Jungfrau) being protected by the monk (or Mönch) from the mean ogre (or Eiger).
Kleine Scheidegg is at the foot of the notorious Eiger North Wall and serves as a starting point for the rock climbers. The train going to Jungfraujoch goes thru the tunnel cut thru the Eiger. Swiss engineers dug the tunnel and built this railway over 100 years ago. It's a 6 mile trip and 4 miles of that is spent in a tunnel carved into the mountain. The train makes two stops while in the tunnel. From the large observation windows we could see the sea of ice.
When we arrived to Junfraujoch the clear sky and sunshine reflecting on snow was so bright that we needed few minutes for our eyes to adjust even with sunglasses. We started our visit at the Plateau. We took our picture with Jungfrau in the background and lots of shots of Aletsch Glacier. The Europe's longest glacier is a 14-mile long river of ice stretching all the way into Italy. Walking on a glacier is amazing experience.
Next we ventured inside the glacier. Ice Palace is 60 feet below the glacier's surface. It is carved out of the slowest-moving section of the glacier and everything here is made of ice, including beautiful display of sculptures.
The highest viewing point at Jungfraujoch is observation deck called Sphinx Terrace (we took the picture of it earlier from the plateau).
It is overlooking the saddle between the Mönch and Jungfrau peaks. Astronomical and weather research station is also located here.
We enjoyed more of the spectacular views of Aletsch Glacier and majestic peaks stretching as far as we can see.
On our way back we took a little bit different route, via Grindelwald, which offers panoramic views of the treacherous north wall of the Eiger.
We had to change trains before Lauterbrunnen. We exited on the platform and noticed that the train engineer has exited as well. Then we saw another train approaching. Both trains were joined and within a mere minute left the station. We have been going thru this station several times already and didn't even notice the bump. When our train arrived a few minutes later the reverse occurred; trains were decoupled and we were on our way in just a minute. Wow!
The river, white with glacial run-off, has become an old friend as we train in and out of the canyon.
By the time we made it to Lauterbrunnen our water bottle was about to collapse.
At the cable car station we noticed two carts carrying alpine cheese. Almost lost Richard there.
