Hardergrat — Interlaken to Brienzer Rothorn

Widely regarded as one of the most aesthetic and challenging ridge traverses in the world, the Hardergrat involves a relentless series of sharp grassy peaks that separate Lake Brienz from the Habkern Valley. The trail is often no more than 30cm wide, with 1,500m vertical drops into the turquoise water below on one side and steep gullies on the other. It is a test of sheer fitness, psychological fortitude (vertigo), and surefootedness. There are no bailout points once you are on the main ridge section; it is a commit-to-finish line.

Following the historic path used by the Army of the Andes in 1817, this 6-day trans-Andean expedition traverses the central cordillera from Mendoza, Argentina, to the Cajón del Maipo in Chile. The route crosses two significant high-altitude barriers—Portillo Argentino (4,330m) and Paso Piuquenes (4,030m). Hikers move through a high desert landscape of volcanic rock, vast glacial valleys, and the powerful Tunuyán River. The terrain consists primarily of rocky mountain paths, loose scree on the steeper pass approaches, and high-altitude plateaus where exposure to wind and sun is constant.