ViaBerna

You reach Aeschiried mainly through meadows and along the forest that runs beside the deeply cut ravine of the Suldbach. On the broad ridge between lake Thun and the Frutig valley, the view of all the nearby mountains is still clear: the Niesen pyramid towers dominantly in the background. After Aeschiried, the valley trail follows the wild stream to the charming Pochtenfall inn at the end of the public road.

At this point, the actual ascent over the first level of the valley begins. You cross the side streams and are soon standing on the platform above the mighty Pochten waterfall. The roaring water disappears into the rock basins and then plunges over the next rocky ledge. Up to Alp Mittelberg, there is a slightly less steep section on an alpine road. The avalanche snow remains in the stream bed until well into summer. Then a steep ascent begins over slippery, narrow paths, through small ravines and further over steep pastures to the Renggli pass. Halfway there is an alpine hut with an inviting terrace where you can stop for a rest.

At the Renggli pass, a view of lake Brienz opens up. The next alp, Mittelberg, is reached via partly slippery alpine trails. In summer, the meadows with their pretty mountain flowers are a feast for the eyes. If you are lucky, you will meet some of the alpine dairymen tending the cheeses that ripen in the sheds over the summer. The path then descends steeply along the stream into the valley of Saxeten. The small mountain village is served several times a day by a postbus from Wilderswil.