Big Pintenfritz: Climb and Sled Descent

• The sled descent starts at Faulhorn, 2,680 metres above sea level.
• The walk from First via Bachalpsee takes about two and a half hours.
• The regular descent runs to Bussalp.
• With good snow, it can continue to Lochsteinen and exceed 1,000 metres of vertical descent.
• The return bus from Lochsteinen depends on snow conditions.
• Fritz Bohren, known as Pintenfritz, was a former innkeeper at the Faulhorn restaurant.
• Historical postcards show visitors using horn sledges on routes towards Grindelwald.

A Big Pintenfritz sledging day begins with a gondola ride from Grindelwald to First, followed by a winter walk via Bachalpsee to Faulhorn at 2,680 metres. Allow about two and a half hours for the walk from the mountain station to the start. The sled is pulled up on foot, so the climb is a substantial part of the outing rather than a short approach to a sled run. Altitude, exertion and winter conditions shape the day.

The regular sled descent leads from Faulhorn to Bussalp. With good snow cover, the route can continue to Lochsteinen, covering more than 1,000 metres of descent. The return bus from Lochsteinen to Grindelwald depends on snow conditions. The route’s difficulty and passability can change with weather and snow, affecting both the descent and whether the extension beyond Bussalp is possible. Because the sled run does not finish at a lift station, the walk up, descent and return connection need to be treated as one itinerary. More sledging routes are covered in sledging; Faulhorn lies within the Jungfrau Ski Region.

For the day’s plan, the current route and piste status and the bus service from Lochsteinen are relevant. The gondola from Grindelwald to First is an uphill journey; the sled route ends separately in the valley. The general guidance on arrival and departure helps place the access to Grindelwald and the onward connections.

The name recalls Fritz Bohren, known as Pintenfritz, a former innkeeper at the Faulhorn restaurant. Local tradition says that after sledging he regularly stopped at a “Pinte”, a small inn. Historical postcards already show visitors steering horn sledges down towards Grindelwald, linking the route with a long history of winter sledging in the area.