Engstligenalp
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The Engstligenalp is the biggest plateau of the western Swiss Alps. It lies south of Adelboden on 1900 - 2000 m above sea level. Since 1996 it belongs to the Swiss culture landscapes of national significance (No. 1513 on [1]).
The 7 square kilometre plateau, belonging to the community of Adelboden has the form of an oval measuring in north-south direction 1 km in east-west direction 2 km and is surrounded by mountains, dominated by the Wildstrubel in the southwest. It is covered by alpine pastures and crossed by numerous mountain streams springing from the slopes. At the exit of the valley they collect to form the Engstligen falls which cascade in of the most impressive waterfalls of the western Swiss alps 600 m down to the Engstligen valley. Access from the north is a mule track blasted into the 600 m high rock beside the waterfalls. Since the 1920 there exists also a cable car. A hiking trail leads south over three mountain passes (Chindbettipass, Rote Chumme, Gemmi) to Leukerbad in the Valais, another leads west to the Lenk valley. Panorama map, Engstligenalp in the upper left quadrant
The Engstligenalp is used since the late middle ages as alpine pasture. Today it is owned by an alp cooperative of about 100 farmers from Frutigen and Adelboden. It offers from end of June to mid September pasture for 500 cattle (about one third cows, and one third calves) of the big brown-white Simmental race. A spectacular takes place in June when 350 cattle are moving up on the mule track in the rock wall. [2] From the milk of the cows the Alpine dairymen using old handicraft techniques produce a Bernese Alp cheese which is so searched for that it is sold in private and not available in open market. (Ernst Roth, z'Bärg im Frutigland, volume three of Wege zum Alpkäse)
In the 20th century, the Engstligenalp opened up to a moderate tourism with two guest houses. In summer it offers hikes and climbing routes and, as a specialty, a wheelchair route of 5 km including the necessary infrastructure in the two guest houses, offering to handicapped people the chance to enjoy an unspoilt alpine landscape. [3]
In winter there are two cross-country skiing routes and winter hiking routes usable from December to April on the plateau and a winter hiking path also usable for nordic alpin hiking [4] as well as several skilifts at the northern slope offering easy and difficult downhill passages and a special area for off-piste snowboarding (freeriding). [5]
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