(Jungfrau Region)

An Alpine Scavenger Hunt

ere's a light-hearted score sheet for a proposed photographic scavenger hunt in the Jungfrau Region. We constructed it for a teacher and husband who were bravely taking 15 older teens to Europe in 2000.

While we don't recommend building your trip itinerary around these items, they will give you some idea of interesting things to look for, some off-beat, while you're traveling around the area. And perhaps you'll find here a thing or two you will want to go out of your way to see.

ake it along with you on your trip and see how many points you can score! Let us know if you think of some we should add.

ome items are easy; some a bit hard; some in interesting places; some in prosaic spots. Some could require some research before the trip or talking with locals (both of which we encourage.)

Points based on rarity/difficulty and interest/value.

Dog sled 1
In daytime summer atop the Jungfraujoch. Dogs are kept at Eigergletscher at night and in winter.

Domestic goats 2
We see few, but they're around in backyards. There's a herd in the summer in the area above Trachselauenen (above Stechelberg at the end of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. They love salt; dang near chewed off Ed's hands while walking through the herd! Try petting them.

"Tallest" waterfall 2
The Lauterbrunnen Valley has over 70. Highest, and loveliest, is the Staubbach.

Car tunnel 2
On the road from Lauterbrunnen to Iseltwald. There's a very interesting story behind this tunnel in a place one would hardly expect. There's also one on the highway between Interlaken and Spiez, but it's no more interesting than a thousand others.

Alpine Choughs (or Chuffs) 3
(Pyrrhocorax graculus)
(aka Yellow-Billed Chough)
Large black birds, cousins of crows though larger than American crows, almost as large as the ravens at London's Tower. Yellow bills and red legs/feet. Usually found near mountain peaks, but also found as low as the balconies on hotels in Mürren. If eating your lunch outdoors at a height watch out for these robbers!

Revolving restaurant 3
Our favorite mountaintop is the Schilthorn, where you'll find this 'stage prop' from James Bond's romps in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."

Steamer 3
One each operate on the Thunersee and Brienzersee. About 4-5 roundtrip cruises (by steam) daily in summer. Many other diesel powered boats. There are few steamers left in the world, even fewer in places as civilized as Switzerland.

Parasailers 3
Often found above Interlaken off the Schynige Platte ridge, above Grindelwald, and sailing off the Schilthorn over Lauterbrunnen. Team member actually doing the parasailing ... 10 points. (You can buy a tandem ride with an experienced pilot for about $175.)

Largest Swiss Army Knife 3
Many models, of course, including the "Champ", which we love. Larger, though, are the display models in store windows. Some are quite large.

Swiss Air Force fighter landing 3
The reservists train all the time. In the Jungfrau area you'll often hear distant 'booms'. They can be either fighters on training or snow/rock avalanches. Fighters can occasionally be seen at the Interlaken airport between Interlaken Ost and Wilderswil, as well as the barebones airfield between the lake and north whroe road joinging Brienz to Meiringen.

"Indoor" waterfall(s) 3
Trümmelbach Falls at Lauterbrunnen are inside the moutain ... they drain the Jungfrau glaciers on the north side.

Duvets receiving their daily morning airing on the balcony railing 4 points
Becoming more rare.

Oldest funicular 4
Giessbach has the oldest one in Switzerland (if not the oldest remaining). The cars (dating from the original 19th C installation) are open air and unique. Mürren's Almendhubel funicular is very old, but the cars are brand new. The Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp funicular on the way to Mürren is quite old, though the cars themselves are not. The funicular at Reichenbach Falls (of Holmes/Moriarity fame) is also quite ancient; these are open cars as well, but brand-new, exact replicas of the originals.

Hydroelectric station 4
Found (at least) in Lauterbrunnen, Stechelberg and alongside the train line between Zweilütschinen and Grindelwald. Hydoelectricity is Switzerland's greatest natural asset ... along with well-educated, hard-working employees.

Climbers rope and iceaxe carved on gravestone 4
You'll find area cemeteries well-tended, scenic ... quite lovely. And interesting. Look for gravestones carved with a motif suggesting vocation and hobbies. Many of those on which you find the rope/iceax motif died climbing.

Alpine flowers 4
Schynige Platte provides one of the best views of the Jungfrau massiff. At least as worthwhile but much less-visited, there's a fine, almost unique, alpine garden there. There's a short growing season at this altitude (perhaps 75-90 days) though Alpine flowers of one kind or another will be found between roughly mid-late June and mid-late August. 8 points for a genuine Edelweiss growing naturally ... 2 points for a preserved Edelweiss on display. Depending on season many other Alpine flowers in meadows throughout the region.

Cows in the center of town/city 5
Interlaken's Matten ... the 'village green' ... is often used for this though not found year round. Elsewhere, usually seen in towns only in early summer/late summer-early fall being led to/from the alpine pastures with great ceremony.

European Community flag 5
Switzerland is not a member of the EC. The flag, however is flown in at least one place in the mountains around the Jungfrau. (Mürren - but where?)

Ibex or chamois. 5
Hard to find in the mountains and usually at a great distance. However, there are some at the zoo at the base of the Harderkulm in Interlaken. Added points for ones photographed in the wild.

Iron smelter (furnace) 5
On the footpath between Lauterbrunnen and Zweilütschinen. Iron ore is common in these mountains. Several old mines above Stechelberg. Not rich lodes, though, and once transportation to the region became easier in the 19th century the mines were abandoned as it was cheaper to ship iron in than mine and process it locally.

Armed soldiers 1 point per semiautomatic rifle ... 5 bonus points for a machine gun
The reservists train every weekend. Not often found in the Jungfrau region except at the train station going to/from training. But occasional patrols are seen. Always in full combat gear including rifles.

Snow on the ground (underneath feet) 7 if not above 9,000 feet
Easy in January, of course. But snow is found year-'round. Easy at the Jungfraujoch (0 points). Most years often found in shady spots above 6-8,000 feet.

Team member kissing cow in Alpine meadow 7
We've never kissed any, but some seem peaceful enough. We've not tested their reaction to sexual harassment, though. (Do be a bit careful; usually gentle, they, like us, can sometimes get cantankerous.)

Marmot 7
A groundhog-like animal found in alpine tundra in few spots in the world, scattered throughout the US, Asia and Europe. Often heard in Switzerland (a shrill, warning whistle - worth 3 points) but difficult to spot. Occasionally can find stuffed ones on display (4 points).

Policeman (woman) in the Oberland 7
We don't recall ever seeing a police officer south of Interlaken. In fact may not have seen one there either. A very law-abiding citizenry. But what about the tourists?

Team member 'driving' a funicular or train engine. 8
Lots of opportunity here for that.

Team member dispatching train 8
Every station has its Station Master with his distinctive cap and signaling device. If you can talk him out of his cap and signal for a few minutes this is worth at least 8 points.

Lederhosen 8
Uncommon except in professional shows, unless perhaps in more eastern parts of Switzerland, or at village festivals. Make sure they're the genuine (leather) variety with decorative Edelweiss carved from bone.

Alphorn and Alphornist 10
Just as in the Riccola commercial. Uncommon in the Jungfrau region except at village festivals and other special events. Common on some mountaintops (e.g Pilatus). Picture of a team member actually playing the Alphorn (recording required) ... 15 points.
Alphornist playing the alphorn dressed in genuine Lederhosen: 12 Team member playing the alphorn wearing Lederhosen: 18 points.

More Information About the Region and Switzerland

• Activities and Excursions in the Oberland
• Tourist Offices in the Jungfrau Region
• How to Visit the Mountains in One Day Your schedule may permit only a brief peek at Switzerland's best ... here's a way to make the most of it.
• A Personal Visit to Switzerland
• Swiss Hotels and Restaurants
• Swiss Rail Passes and Car and Train Travel
• Swiss Rail Schedules and Information
• Jungfrau Region - A Travelogue
• The Engadine: Switzerland's Sunny Side Hiking in the Graubunden.
• Switzerland Resource References An extensive listing of books and Internet sources for planning your visit to Switzerland.

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