Jungfrau & Eiger Nordwand
Sunday, December 18 2005 @ 08:50 PM | Contributed by:
Oliver | Views: 6,473
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The Jungfrau [Map] is one of the most famous mountains in Switzerland, mainly because it is easy for everyone to climb it. There is an incredible tunnel going up through the mountain until 3'500 meters height from where you have one of the most incredible view on several glaciers, mountain ranges and vast lower regions that one will never forget. |
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In winter, already the ascent is spectacular. The railway is using a cogwheel to climb the steep mountain and passes several stops until the top. You can see very simple machines that are used to oil the track (Pic1) as well as extremely high waterfalls on the other side of the valley (Pic2). Pic 3 is a panorama of the view from the train.
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The northern slope below the Jungfrau is extremely steep and still hosts a couple of smaller glaciers sliding down the mountain.whereas the top ridge shows how the ice breaks off at the edge, the lower glaciers are so transparent that you can see the rock formations through the ice. Also you can see the station they have built on the saddle, the "Jungfraujoch" (Pic 3)
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After the train climbs into the first tunnel, it is passing through the massive bedrock until it reaches a window in the mountain, about one third of the height below the tip of the Eiger at the northern wall. This wall is infamous for being extremely difficult to climb. The climber cannot do it in one day so you have to stay over night at a protected position to avoid falling rocks that are loosened by the heat in the afternoon. Many people died up there already. And now you can sit in a warm train and peer out some window and have an amazing view where other people kill themselves to get up by hand. Pic 1 is a panorama-shot from the window.
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Then, after 10 more minutes climbing up with the train through the rock, you reach the second window. It gives another astounding view of a vast field of glacier, the "Aletsch". Pic 3 is another panorama, from that point of view.
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Once you reach the top, the view is amazing. It is probably one of the few views from mountaintops where you almost have 360 degrees of view, with several glaciers as well as extremely steep descents. You have to be lucky to have a nice view and not too many people blocking it.
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