Back from Switzerland

Hi All,

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Looks like we've had some nasties visiting the site. They'll go play elsewhere, I'm sure.

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I've just got back from two weeks of photography/hiking/camping in Switzerland with my 4x5 and I thought I'd share some things I learned in case anyone else care to go there.

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First, it seems that June through the middle of July is a rainy season so August may be a better time to go.

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Second, I anticipated that I would have to do quite a bit of hiking to get to where I wanted to go. This is true but not to the extent that I thought it would be. You can get to just about any town or village by train, bus, or cablecar.

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Third, there is a big downside to the above comment. Because the Swiss have created such an extensive tourist transport infrastructure, it is difficult to do landscape photography of some of the most majestic mountains without including the towers and cablecars. That's a problem for me, but some folks may not mind it a bit.

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Fourth, if you do go to Switzerland, get a Swiss Rail FlexPass from your local EuRail vendor. You may want to stay in one location for several days before getting back on the train. The FlexPass lets you have a certian number of days on the trains but they need not be consecutive. Also, join Youth Hosteling International

($25.00 approx.). Switzerland has fantastic youth hostels that give a great break between showerless days in your tent.

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Fifth, go to see the area around Piz Roseg and the area around Grindelwald no matter where else you go. You will not be disappointed. Near Grindelwald, go up to First, then hike up to the big lake [the name escapes me at the moment, starts with a 'B'].

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Anyway, Switzerland is a remarkably beautiful country and I can't wait to go back. Next time, I will bring the 8x10!

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Regards,

Jason

I am a bit surprised by the third point. Working from

Chamonix (French Alps), I found it pretty easy to exclude

the man-made structures from the compositions, even when

shooting from one of those structures ! Chamonix has to be

the best location in the world for shooting high mountains with LF.

You don't have to walk a lot or carry overnight gear, and the

scenery is second to none. For some inspiration, look at

Shiharara's book "The Alps". No wonder he began there.

"B" like Bachsee? Thanks Jason for suggesting. You where infortunate: we have had the worst July of the

decade or more, with lots of rain and very cold (perhaps a side effect of El Ni�o?) and the weather just

turned nice from today. Actually it is impossible to predict nice weather any time in advance, as it

changes every year. The month of August is sometimes dry, but not a rule. To see the flowering Alps,

usually best time is July though. What I can probably say is: a wet spring time-a nice summer time; a dry

spring time- a wet summer. If I do not specify on what extent the dry and the wet are, I probably will be

right anyway! I hope you have more chance next time.

I'm glad to hear you liked Switzerland so far. Paul is absolutely

right. This is by far the worst July I can remember. I hope you could

use some of the advices that I gave you.

Hi all

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Just to give some ideas where to get LF sheet film:

In Zuerich it is Studio 13 a pro lab at the Hafnerstreet

and:http://www.stutzfoto.ch/

But weather is in my opinion best at August-September!

I second the vote for the area near Grindelwald ; earlier this year

we stayed in the Jungfrau region in a village called Wengen, in the

shadow of the Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau ; by local train from here

you can go almost to the top of the Jungfrau to the Jungfraujoch, a

spectacular glacier area, and you stop off twice in the middle of the

Eiger with views of its glaciers ; you can also go by cable car to

Schilthorn, with panoramic views of the Alps in virtually every

direction (absolutely breathtaking!) ; if you're lucky, the wild

flowers will be in bloom, and they are possibly the most sublime

sight of all. Went everywhere by train - no car required.

I used this thread for information for my recent (summer 2002) trip to Switzerland (Interlaken) so wanted to add my comments. I second the post about the Jungfrau area. I bought the recently introduced Jungfraubahnen Pass which gets you 5 days unlimited travel on most of the railways, cablecars, fumiculars etc in the Jungfrau area. It is 120 SFr.

Weather was rather misty so polarisers are useful. Check the very variable weather on the cable channel giving live pictures from the Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn and Mannlichen locations.

Favorite spots :

1) Try the 5 mile hike from Mannlichen (6000 feet) to Kleine Scheidegg (about 500 feet lower). It is an easy hike downhill all the way along a good path and takes about 2 hours upwards depending on how fast you walk and how many pictures you take. You get amazing views into the Lauterbrunnen and Grindlewald valleys and the Eiger and Jungfrau rise above you. To get to Mannlichen take the train to Wengen then the cablecar up to Mannlichen. Pick a clear day.

2) Schynige Platte is a good vantage point with some nice walks.

3) Trummelbach falls. More suitable for 35 mm than LF due to the spray from the falls. These cascade down in a series of about ten falls inside the mountainside taking meltwater from the Jungfrau glaciers. There is a lift to make access easier. Take the postbus from Lauterbrunnen up the valley a short distance to get there.

4) The Schilthorn at about 9000 feet gives excellent panoramas. Also try the intermediate station of Birg on the cablecar for good views.

5) The Jungfraujoch is not so much a location for photos as a 'stargate' type experience. The train took us from Kleine Scheidegg at 6000 feet and nice warm alpine summer conditions through the mountain to emerge at 11000 feet into a glacial freezing world of rock and ice.