//Hardergrat \\// A Ridge Run Like NO Other \\

Years ago a neighbor told me about an epic ridge trail in Switzerland. Harder something or other. The name must have stuck in my mind like a piece of grizzle in the teeth because I recently picked it out from between my mental molars during a visit to Switzerland. At the time conditions meant that some of the higher terrain was out of reach for me. I frantically began searching for alternative adventures and from a sea of possibilities a name stood out. Hardergrat! The Hardergrat sounded very much like the route my neighbor suggested years before. Under closer inspection this unique 17 to 21 mile ridge trail overlooking Lake Brienz near Interlaken was exactly the challenging trail I had been told about. The trail starts just 5 minutes from the Interlaken Ost train station. The Harderkulm trail is a steep dirt trail that climbs up from the valley floor to the termination of the ridge on its western end. From there you continue to slowly gain elevation and eventually around mile 5.5 you escape the concealment of the trees and break out onto the open ridge. It’s a fascinating trail. In June the hills are green and littered with endless flowers all the way from the summit to the shores of the lake. During this time of year you’ll also be highly motivated to move along by the suffocating number of flys. A total absence of wind on this day made the flys even worse. You’ll notice them almost constantly on my camera lens. The trail follows the ridge all the way from the Harderkulm to the Brienzer Rothorn. Sometimes the ridge is no wider than 24in. The views of the Jungfrau region will melt your eyes with its blue, green and white splendor. If you feel up to it you can continue past the Rothorn to a descent further along but I was ready to be done. Some dry heaves and empty water bottles were all I needed to be persuaded to take the veeeeeeeery slow steam train back down to the town of Brienz.