There are boulder courses to suit all abilities on the Engstligenalp! General What is bouldering?
Equipment What do you need to go bouldering?
A "boulder" is, of course, a large lump of rock. In bouldering, you climb on boulders at jump height rather that using ropes and hooks. The only safety equipment used is a mat, which absorbs the impact and provides protection when you jump back to the ground.
To boulder, you need a pair of climbing shoes, a chalk bag and a "crash pad", the boulder mat that protects you when you jump back to the ground.
Anyone can boulder! Many people know about bouldering from climbing halls. However, bouldering outside in a natural setting is particularly good fun. The Mammut boulder course on the Engstligenalp plateau above Adelboden is a small but perfectly designed bouldering paradise in a magnificent mountain setting. Different courses are identified by colours. From green to blue, red and black, each of the different levels of difficulty offers an exciting challenge. Easy course for beginners and children Medium-difficulty course for occasional climbers Demanding course for experienced boulderers Difficult course for ambitious boulderers
Fotos: Wolfgang Antz
Would you like to go bouldering?
Boulder mats can be hired from the Berghotel Engstligenalp for 10.00 Swiss francs. Information: Berghotel Engstligenalp, Tel. +41(0)33 673 22 91
Risk Is bouldering dangerous? In general, the risk of injury in bouldering is low. Warming up properly and being aware of how high above the mat you are climbing can help to reduce the risk to a minimum. If you don't feel confident enough to take your first steps into bouldering on your own, you can sign up for a bouldering course on the Engstligenalp. The Mammut Alpine School organises a range of courses for beginners and advanced boulderers: www.mammut.ch.
Respect Nature reserve and responsibility
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Most of the boulder courses are located in a nature reserve. Please respect the natural environment and follow the instructions. Leave the bouldering areas exactly as you find them.
Engstligenalp information Travel By public transport: From Frutigen by bus to Adelboden-Oey and by local bus (Boden) to Birg (terminus). By car: Via Spiez, Frutigen to Adelboden. In Adelboden, turn left at the Aellig bakery towards Birg (large free car park at the valley station). Arial tramway operating times and prices Summer 2011 to 24.06. 8.40 – 5 p.m. Single Return Rules on CD Manual to 28.08. 8.20the – 6 p.m. Adults 16.50 Swiss francs 24.00 Swiss francs to 23.10. 8.40 – 5 p.m. Children 7.20 Swiss francs 10.00 Swiss francs Every 15logo minutes. The should be shown Reductions: GA,background Swiss Card, Regiopass, FVP against½a Tax, black
Logo: grösse 15 - 40 mm For sizes 15 – 40 mm
General information Bergbahnen Engstligenalp AG Unter dem Birg, 3715 Adelboden Tel. +41 (0)33 673 32 70 or +41 (0)33 673 22 91 info@engstligenalp.ch, www.engstligenalp.ch
Restaurants/Hotels Berghotel Engstligenalp, Tel. +41(0)33 673 22 91 Berghaus Bärtschi, Tel. +41 (0)33 673 13 73 Emergency numbers Ambulance 144, Police 117, Rega (air rescue service) 1414
Boulder courses Engstligenalp – Adelboden In cooperation with Bimano, www.bimano.ch and Bergbahnen Engstligenalp AG, www.engstligenalp.ch Rules on the CD Manual The logo should be shown against a black background Logo: grösse 15 - 40 mm For sizes 15 – 40 mm
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Start Start
«Gruebistei»
End End
«Startblock»
Engstligenalp mountain station
ings d draw Detaile courses e of all th und at: fo e b can o.ch biman
Berghotel Engstligenalp
Berghaus Bärtschi
Engstligenalp circular hiking trail
Seeli
300 m
«Gross Lägerstei»
Overview Übersicht andund detailed Detailplan: plan: Bimano
Overview and detailed plan of the boulder courses
«Black Beauty» 300 m
Ski lift
Dossenseeli
Engstligenalp circular hiking trail
Ammertenspitz / Lenk
Chindbetti Pass
Course
«Weisser Riese»
Skilift
5
6
«White Gold»
Course Seeliweg
Course
1
2
3
7
8
«Der Wächter»
4
«Black Pearl» Access The starting point of the boulder courses is a short walk (25 to 35 minutes) from the aerial tramway mountain station, the path is level enough for a buggy or wheelchair. From the mountain station, first go to the Berghaus Bärtschi and from here follow the circular hiking trail, in an anti-clockwise direction, over the Engstligenalp plateau. After 20 minutes, cross the stream. Shortly after this, you leave the circular hiking trail on a little path to the right. Follow this for around 150 metres.
This brings you to the "Gruebistei" which marks the start of the green and blue courses (no. 5 and 6) on the plateau. The start of the other courses is 10 minutes upstream in a south-westerly direction. Green, blue and red courses begin at the "starting block" (numbers 1, 2 and 3). The black course (no. 4) starts a little further up, at the distinctive white block "White Gold".
Boulder courses The courses are graded by level of difficulty. The difficulty levels are based on the Fontainebleau bouldering scale. Each route is indicated by an arrow and a number. A bar at the start of the arrow indicates that you should start from a seated position. Otherwise, you should start climbing from a standing position. 4a – 4c
5a – 5c
6a – 6b
6c – 7b
The courses are designed in such a way that several courses often go past the same boulder. For example, if you are climbing the blue course, you can also try a green, red or even black route in places. Course no. 6 is a special children's route. In some places, thin black arrows (no numbers) on the boulders indicate other routes. These are not part of the course but you can, of course, try these too.
Time needed Each course includes between 15 and 20 individual routes. At a comfortable climbing pace, it will take around a day to complete a course, including the ascent/descent time and breaks. Weather The Engstligenalp is located in an alpine setting at an altitude of around 2,000 metres.
You must have appropriate equipment and clothing for this environment. The boulders dry very quickly after any rain and you can tackle the course very soon afterwards. Additional information Courses 7 and 8 are not described in the detailed plan. Information about all the routes/boulder courses can be found at www.bimano.ch.