ViaBerna, Stage 19/20

From the Engstlenalp, you climb up to the Sätteli, crossing via an exposed mountain path on the northern flank of the Gadmerflüö. The mountain path descends steeply down to the Tällihütte and follows the mountain flank into the Gadmen Valley. At the end, it zig-zags steeply down to Gadmen.

The hike begins at the Engstlenalp bus stop, on the broad expanse of Engstlenalp. Soon after the start, the mountain trail runs close to the shore of Engstlensee. This natural lake lies in open terrain between the Alpine pastures; its water is also used as a reservoir by Kraftwerke Oberhasli via an underground lake intake. The route then climbs steadily through open terrain, with the rocky Tällistock nearby.

Higher up, the landscape becomes more barren. After a good two hours, the trail reaches its highest point at Sätteli, at around 2,100 m. Some 600 metres of ascent have been completed here; at the same time, the long descent into the Gadmental begins. The mountain trail now loses height rapidly, leading first across open slopes and later through forest.

Over the twelve kilometres, the descent totals around 1,250 metres. Towards the end, the first houses of Gadmen come into view. After a good four hours, the hike ends in the village; the Gadmen, Post bus stop is just under 100 metres from the finish.