Mountain solitude at Obersteinberg

At the PostBus terminus in Stechelberg east of the Lütschine, go through the valley floor into the valley towards Sichellouwena. Here you cross over the stream and ascend through the forest to Trachsellauenen. The soothing sound of the Schmadrilütschine rises to the path. In old times, however, there was an active mining operation here. Iron was mined at Dirlocherhoren under the Rottal Glacier and zinc ore and silver-bearing galena were smelted in the blast furnace at Trachsellauenen. Behind Trachsellauenen the path forks. The path on this side of the stream allows the variant via Ammerta to be taken (to Obersteinberg 1h40). The alpine path at Schiirboden enters the Understeinberg nature reserve, which extends to the main crest between Äbeni Flue and Tschingelhorn. The very rich flora is remarkable. At Wilde Egg (to valley–Oberhornsee 1h45) the path winds up the right valley flank and reaches, climbing steeply, the Obersteinberg hotel (to Oberhornsee 1h, to Tschingelhorn–Stechelberg hotel 1h20). Unique viewpoint in the wild romantic basin of the farthest Lauterbrunnen valley! You enjoy an incomparable view of numerous whitewater and glacier streams as well as the hanging glaciers on the Jungfrau, on Äbeni Flue, and on the Breithorn. Obersteinberg is also the starting point for many high mountain and glacier tours. Turning back into the valley, the path now leads over small rocky heads and a steep grassy slope between cliff bands down to the foot of Tanzbödeli (caution). Here you stand at one of the most impressive points to be visited in the Bernese Oberland. The view is even more beautiful on the alpine terrace, which can be reached by a short, steep detour. Especially overwhelming is the view into the glacier-covered wall from the Jungfrau to the Tschingelhorn. On the descent via Alp Busen the view clears to the north: Sefinental and -alp, the Schilthorn, where James Bond once acted "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," the high terraces of Mürren and Wengen, and above all the view through the impressive trough valley of the Weisse Lütschine captivate once again. Very steep but on a good path, you now go down through the Busen forest into the Sefinental (to Gimmelwald 30 min) and beyond the Sefinenlütschine valley outwards to the Wassserbrigg (to Gimmelwald 35 min). The final descent to the right of the stream through the forest into the valley floor of Stechelberg still has its challenges!