Day 9 – Stöckalp - Melchsee-Frutt

We kicked off the day with the 9:29 AM train to Sarnen—punctual, of course, in true Swiss fashion. From there, a scenic postal bus ride brought us to Stöckalp, the base station for the gondola up to Melchsee-Frutt.

Perched at 6,300 feet, Melchsee-Frutt is a stunning alpine resort village nestled on a high plateau, surrounded by dramatic peaks and serene mountain lakes. A perfect spot for our final hiking day—thank you, Peter, for picking such a gem!

Our hike began with a climb to Bonistock, a spectacular cliffside viewpoint at 7,086 feet. With lunchtime approaching, we happily settled in for coffee and a surprise treat: pastries that magically appeared from my backpack—delicious!

From Bonistock, the group split:
Group 1 (those with tender knees) took the gondola down to the valley and followed a gentle trail past Melchsee to Tannensee and on to Tannenalp at 6,476 feet. Heinz, listening to his body, bailed out halfway for a long, restful nap on a bench. When awake, he admired the trout fishermen and took photos of wildflowers.

Group 2, our sure-footed mountain goats, tackled the steep descent by foot from the cliffs to Tannenalp, eventually reuniting with Group 1.

The weather was cool and refreshing—a welcome change. While passing clouds occasionally blocked the view of the mountains, we were spared any rain—a memorable final hike in a truly magical setting.Read more