Allmenalp

Thursday 28.6.18

 A small....and I mean small....cable car transports you up to 1725m and a mountain paradise. The cable car is accessed from Butchelstrasse about a ten minute walk from Kandersteg railway station.Walking trails from the upper cable car station lead you to the Ueschinental or over to Adelboden via the Bunderchrinde.
We did the latter a few years ago, today we were sticking to the Allmenalp-Usser Uschene-Kandersteg route. Around 3 hours, depending on how far you meander up the Uschene valley.
Through meadow, valley and forest it starts with wonderful views down over Kandersteg. It is worth taking time to enjoy this view, if only to recover from the hair-raising ride up in what looks like an old red phone box.


 They say it can hold 8 people.....what do you think?

 Once you have recovered your strength.....leave the cable car station and head uphill...on clear day the Bunderspitz dominates the view. At a junction of paths you go left, down over a footbridge and past a farm on the left. The path contours the hillside and continues until you reach the Usser Uschene.

Balmhorn

Doldenhorn and convenient seat

The path hugging the hillside 
Usser Uschene

 Wander off up the Uschene if you wish....we usually do. Quite agricultural...it is after all  working farmland. Continue on to reach the snowline and you will be treated to the sight of Primula auricula, Oxslips and Soldonella. We found a suitable place to sit and eat our packed lunch before heading back down the road in the direction of Kandersteg.

 The footpath down takes short cuts and crosses the road at a number of points. Stay on the road or take the path....its up to you. We did a bit of both and were really pleased we did because on a road section we found the magnificent Epipactis atrorubens, Dark red helleborine.....a lovely orchid with attractive dark red flowers and distinctive yellow anthers. Beautiful. A flower packed day indeed......

Gentiana lutea, Yellow gentian

Sempervivum arachnoideum, Cobweb houseleek

Campanula glomerata, Clustered bellflower

Teucrium montanum, Mountain germander

Campanula scheuchzeri, Bellflower

Platanthera bifolia, Butterfly Orchid

Dactylorhiza fuchsii

Prunella grandiflora, Large flowered self-heal

Campanula thrysoides, Bellflower

Dactylorhiza viridis, Frog orchid

Dianthus carthusianorum, Carthusian pink

Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, French meadow-rue

Anthyllis vulneraria, Kidney vetch

Aster alpinus, Alpine aster

Saxifraga paniculata


Nigritella nigra


Dactylorhiza fuchsii

Epipactis atrorubens, Dark red helleborine 
Epipactis palustris, Marsh helleborine 

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