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The Gurten: My Favorite Peak
Although only 858 m high, the Gurten is on my list of the 100 most attractive peaks. It is the mountain I have climbed or jogged up the most. I have been up there well over 1000 times, usually at least once a week on Bern's local mountain.
The Challenge of the "Everesting Challenge"
Climbing up and down 36 times in a row, as mountain runner Michael Schütz plans to do on October 11 and 12, 2024, as part of the "Everesting Challenge," is definitely too much for me; this amounts to 8848 meters, the exact height of Mount Everest, and 113 kilometers of distance. I take it much more leisurely: I usually take the train back down, which is easier on the joints and also puts money in the Gurtenbahn's coffers.
Often, I go directly up the steep path from Wabern, or via Gurtendörfli. In recent years, I have alternatively discovered Blinzern as a starting point: From the south side up to the East Signal, mostly in the forest, where I even saw a wolf one winter a few years ago.
Various Routes and Experiences
There are a multitude of training possibilities on and around Bern's local mountain, mostly on natural paths, a colorful up and down. For years, I also participated in the GurtenCLASSIC, which takes place every autumn. And of course, a sprint to the top of the 22 m high observation tower is a must to crown the training. Once Gurten, always Gurten!
Author
Ruedi Horber
Political and business consultant, author
The Nuggi Tree
by Lorenz Pauli
Ruedi Horber, an economist originally from Zug, worked for the federal administration and in association management for many years. He has lived in Niederscherli with his family since 1983 and has continued to work in a number of roles since his retirement. In his free time, he can often be found in the mountains and foothills of the Alps, whether hiking or trail running, often on the Gurten, of course.
The Gurten: My Favorite Peak
What do the Matterhorn, the Stockhorn, the Pilatus, the Gurten, and the Uetliberg have in common? They are the local mountains of well-known Swiss cities and holiday resorts. A brief introduction and an invitation to visit one or more of these peaks.
Why travel far when beauty is so close? Many Swiss cities and holiday resorts have a prominent mountain in their immediate vicinity. This makes it possible to relax or engage in sports practically on your doorstep. This fits the spirit of the times and is good for the environment.
| Peak | Location | Altitude Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Gurten 858 m | Bern 540 m | 318 m |
| Uetliberg 873 m | Zurich 408 m | 465 m |
| Zugerberg 1039 m | Zug 425 m | 614 m |
| Le Chaumont 1180 m | Neuchâtel 479 m | 701 m |
| Mont Salève 1375 m | Geneva 375 m | 1000 m |
| Weissenstein 1395 m | Solothurn 432 m | 963 m |
| Cimetta 1672 m | Locarno 200 m | 1472 m |
| Pilatus 2132 m | Lucerne 435 m | 1697 m |
| Stockhorn 2190 m | Thun 560 m | 1630 m |
| Matterhorn 4478 m | Zermatt 1620 m | 2858 m |
With the exception of the Matterhorn, which is of course reserved for well-trained mountaineers, all the local mountains listed are accessible by mountain railway. But even for the mountain of mountains, there was already a bold project in 1890 to connect it by railway. Fortunately, fierce resistance arose throughout Switzerland, so the concession application was eventually withdrawn. Let's take a closer look at two typical local mountains.
Gurten: Bern's Family Mountain
Located in the municipality of Köniz, the 858 m high Gurten is Bern's local mountain and a popular destination for families with many leisure activities on the large summit meadow. It can be easily reached in a few minutes by funicular from Wabern near Bern - or of course on foot via various easy hiking trails. Or why not organize a training seminar or a birthday party in the beautiful summit restaurant or enjoy a fine dinner with a view of the lights of the city of Bern? Many associate Bern's local mountain with Gurten beer and probably even more with the famous Gurten Festival, which takes place every July and attracts tens of thousands of visitors.
The Gurten is my training mountain par excellence. I have been up there well over 1000 times, usually at least once a week. Climbing up and down 36 times in a row, as mountain runner Michael Schütz plans to do on October 11 and 12, 2024, as part of the "Everesting Challenge," is something I can't quite manage; this amounts to 8848 meters of altitude and 113 kilometers of distance. I take it much more leisurely: I usually take the train down, which is easier on the joints. Often, I go directly up the steep path from Wabern, or via Gurtendörfli, and in recent years, alternatively from the south side, mostly in the forest, where I once saw a wolf in winter a few years ago. Sometimes I am content with a smaller loop on the Gurten; there are a multitude of training possibilities, always on natural paths, a colorful up and down. For years, I also participated in the mountain run on the Gurten, which takes place every autumn.
(June 2024)