Lauterbrunnen Valley

Much as I love the Lauterbrunnen Valley, I have to admit that it's a veritable fog-magnet. As I mentioned earlier, mountain weather can change very quickly, and it's even possible, in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, that it will change for the better. But not likely. I'm usually in favor of hiking anyway, but it's never a dumb idea to take a rain jacket in your daypack, along with that extra sweatshirt or light jacket, even when the sun shines. If you'd like to visit the valley in the rain with some indoor goals in mind, visit the Local Valley Museum, around the bend past the church in Lauterbrunnen. It boasts, most notably, the bell that allegedly made it over the Wetterlücke. After that, of moderate interest are the slide show, the old fashioned skis, old photos taken on famous climbs, Spitzenklöppelei and the usual BUNCH OF OLD STUFF. It's open from the 15th of June till the end of September, Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends, 2:00 till 5:30. It costs SFr 2.50.

Forty five minutes' walk due south of Lauterbrunnen, also accessible with postal bus, are the Trümmelbach Falls. Plan on walking it, even in a light rain, because it's easy going, and the wildflowers along there are exceptionally beautiful. The cost is SFr 8.00 (reasonable for ten waterfalls), and they take you up in a little funicular, through a tunnel into the mountain. The powerful semi-subterranean cascades take on an eerie beauty in the lights used to illuminate them.

Mürren's former (hot air) Balloon Museum has recently (1993) been expanded to include the development of winter sports in the area. Still free, the museum is located on the second floor of the Sports Zentrum, next to the library, and is open from 4.00 PM till 6.00 PM, every day except Thursdays and Sundays. (Pick up a brochure from the Sportzentrum, written in English as well as German, to check on opening times in other seasons and find out about other activities they orgaganise.)