The trip will take us from Bern to Interlaken with the train, and from Interlaken (Wilderswil) to Schynige Platte with the historical cog railway (2h). A 5 hours hike in high Alpine environment will allow us to enjoy the high alpine flora (with the support of Christine Heiniger, an expert in alpine botany) as well as the spectacular view of the Alps. At several stops we will discuss the palaeoecological reconstructions of past tree line elevation, climate, land use and aquatic ecosystem change which have been developed in this region. At the small lake Sägistalsee, a key site for understanding the Holocene environmental history of the landscape around Schynige Platte, we will discuss the vegetation history of the Northern Alps as well as the lake history including climate and environmental changes of the last 12’000 years. Good physical condition and mountain equipment such as hiking boots and rain coats are required. The hike is strongly dependent on the weather conditions.

Itinerary

Bern − Schynige Platte − Sägistalsee − Schnynige Platte − Bern