Jungfraujoch 1

There was a scheduled 5 minute stop at Eismeer (Sea of Ice) station so we dutifully got off and walked down a short corridor only to be met with a solid wall of cloud and this rock face which looks remarkably like Galen from Planet of the Apes to me.   

Here's an internet image of the view we could have seen.

Approaching the station we were all given a little commemorative chocolate with “little” being the operative word - although I suppose I shouldn't complain it's probably about £5 worth given the prices in Switzerland.

Getting off at the top the chill hits you immediately.  

This bust is of the initiator of the railway, quite a feat I should imagine in the late 19th century.  

The Jungfraujoch is 3,454m (11,332ft) above sea level; on one side is a view across central Switzerland towards the French mountain range of the Vosges and the other out across the Aletsch Glacier, lined with 4,000m peaks.  There are various "attractions" up here but we decided to firstly go up to the Sphinx Observation platform and see what we could see.

Looking in the opposite direction to the glacier, it was rather cloudy and this is about all we could see of the mountains.

But turn a few degrees and the view down the glacier was breathtaking.

Another kind soul took pity on my selfie skills, although I have to say most people these days suddenly become very nervous when faced with using a "proper" camera.

We stayed outside for about 10 mins walking around the viewing area and all the while the weather changed; one minute clear down the glacier and the next minute the clouds had rolled back in.   It was so mesmerising I kept taking the same shot.

This is a plan of the mountains that can be seen on a clear day.

Someone was feeding these Swiss crows and like their English relatives they are very intelligent birds

And rather comical too.

There is a 2 hour walk to Mönchsjochhutte (the hut on the saddle of Mount Mönch) which is apparently the highest serviced hut in Switzerland.  The website warns that the path can be closed at any time due to avalanche danger, crevasses or snowstorms and that good shoes and "very good" fitness are absolutely necessary - of course we had neither!

Another internet image of what we didn't see.