The Swiss Alps. Kev Reynolds

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      The Mönch, as seen from Mettlenalp (Chapter 5:7)

Weather

      Mountains create their own weather patterns, so there’s no surprise to find that Switzerland is home to a variety of local and regional microclimates. For instance, a storm may be isolated on the Matterhorn without affecting the nearby Ober Gabelhorn, and what may appear from Alpiglen to be an innocent cloud on the Eiger could, in fact, be launching a blizzard on the mountain. The north side of the Bernese Alps is notoriously wet, while the Rhône valley which divides those mountains from the Pennine Alps to the south is one of the driest in the country. The Rochers de Naye overlooking Lac Léman in Vaud has 257cm of annual precipitation, while Staldenried, less than 75km away at the junction of the Mattertal and Saastal in Canton Valais, has only 53cm.

      Projecting into Italy Canton Ticino, whose mountains belong to the Lepontine and Adula Alps, enjoys the most settled weather, with a Mediterranean climate giving consistently hot and sunny days in summer and comparatively mild winters. Lying in the rain shadow of the Bernese Alps, the Pennine Alps of neighbouring Valais are among the driest.

      Although occurring with some frequency in summer, storms in the Bernina and Bregaglia Alps are generally less dangerous than those experienced in the Bernese Alps where they often arrive with little warning and sometimes last for many hours, or even days. At high altitudes bad weather is not only physically uncomfortable for climbers caught mid-route, but rocks can rapidly cover with snow, ice or verglas to turn an otherwise straightforward climb into a real epic. Mist and cloud can also make glacier crossing a hazardous exercise.

      The Swiss Alps are affected by unusual seasonal winds; the bise comes from the north and can be bitterly cold, even in summer, with night frosts and generally settled weather providing good climbing conditions. The föhn is a very different wind. This blows from the south or southwest with hot air being sucked from the Mediterranean or even the Sahara. As the air is forced to rise over the Alps, it cools and rain or snow falls on the south side of the mountains, with floods sometimes resulting. Having shed its moisture the föhn is then funnelled through the northern valleys, drying and warming as it does. Snow cover diminishes, and conditions for climbing are bad.

      Out of the high mountains, most of the country has a Central European climate with temperatures ranging from 20° to 30°C in summer, and around –2° to 6°C in winter.

      Weather reports

      Hut wardens and local tourist offices often display a daily weather forecast, with an outlook for up to five days. Daily forecasts in German, French or Italian are also obtained by calling 162 (premium rates apply), or checking www.meteoschweiz.ch, where once again information is in German, French or Italian only. Weather reports, forecasts and satellite images can be seen on the Switzerland Tourism website: www.myswitzerland.com.

Getting There

      Switzerland is easy to reach from the UK by road, rail and air. The French motorway system enables drivers to reach the Swiss border within a day’s journey from southern England. By rail, high-speed trains link London with Paris, and Paris with Geneva, Lausanne and Bern, while more than 50 flights a day operate between UK airports and Geneva, Basel and Zürich. When reading the following section please note that travel information is notoriously susceptible to change; ferry services, and train and air schedules may be abandoned or altered overnight, and airlines go out of business with little advance warning. When planning a trip it is advisable to check carefully the current situation either with your local travel agent, or on the internet.

      By road

      This is probably the most expensive way to reach the Swiss Alps, but is the obvious choice of walkers and climbers who fill their car with camping equipment, climbing gear and food, and for those who plan to visit several different regions.