Bern Award for hiking trails goes to Oberhasli

Bringing old alpine paths back to life: the municipality of Schattenhalb in Oberhasli has been awarded the Prix Rando for this hiking trail project. On Alp Grindel, a hiking route on alpine roads was relocated to old alpine paths that are no longer used.

This has also revived a piece of alpine tradition in the Oberhasli region, as the Swiss Hiking Trail Association writes in a press release on Friday. By relocating the path on the Grindel Alp, the hiking trail no longer runs over hard surfaces and has become much more varied.

Hikers can encounter nature and recharge their batteries. This experience is diminished on a monotonous alpine road, said Schattenhalb municipal councillor Christine Kehrli in a video report by the Swiss Hiking Trail Association.

Project manager Peter Huber wanted to bring old historical connections from the lower Alps to the upper Alps back to life, as he explained in the report. The Grindel Alpine Cooperative helped to track down old paths.

"During the relocation to the old alpine paths, well-preserved stone floor slabs and dry stone walls came to light, which we were able to clear with little effort and then use again," said project manager Peter Huber.

The existing infrastructure was supplemented with a new bridge as well as new pasture passages and steps. Thanks to the voluntary efforts of the local population and the use of local materials, the work was completed quickly and without complications.

The main prize of the Prix Rando is endowed with CHF 20,000. A total of 35,000 francs is awarded. The prize is awarded every two years by the Swiss Ramblers' Association together with the Federal Roads Office. A special prize was awarded to the Association du Sentier du Lac de la Gruyère and the Lucerne Hiking Trail Association.

SDA