GRIMSEL, is the name of a lofty mountain in Switzer land, over which there is a road from the canton of Berne into the Upper Vallais. The distance from Meyringen on the Aar, to the Hospice of Grimsel, is about seven leagues, and from thence to Ohcrghestelen on the Rhone, is three leagues. This road is bordered in several places with frightful precipices, and it is often necessary to pass over bridges apparently insecure.
After leaving Meyringen, the traveller passes through the forests of Mount Kirchet, by the agreeable valley of Im Grund. The gneiss here appears below the calcareous strata, lying above the primitive rock. The strata of the gneiss are almost vertical, a little inclined to the south. Beyond the forest which occupies the extremity of Grund, the calcareous rocks cease altogether, and the gneiss and micaceous sehistus replace it on the side of Guttaner, the southern dip of these rocks being a little increased. In the valley of D'Urbach, the great glacier of D'Urbach or of Gauli descends into the plain ; and after passing the Aar by a bridge, a rough and solitary path cut out of the rock leads between the mountains of Urbaeh, Ritzli, Gauli, and Gouttan, to the hamlet of Im Boden, and thence to the village of Gouttanen, situated 3198 feet above the level of the sea, where there is a tolerably good inn. This village was burnt in 1803, but, in consequence of the liberality of the Swiss, it has been rebuilt. About a quarter of a league above Gouttanen, the granite appears in mass, and extends to the Grimsel. Its stratification is distinctly seen. At first the strata stretch from north-east to south-west, and afterwards from east-north-east to west-south-west. About half a league from Gouttanen, the Aar forms a cascade at the side of the road ; and a fine rainbow may be always Seen in clear weather between ten and two o'clock. Be yond Gouttanen the road passes Mount Stampf, and, after twice crossing the Aar, the traveller reaches the chalet of Handeck in two hours. The glacier and the lake of Ghel mer are distinctly seen from that mountain to the east, and to the south-west appear the glaciers of Erlen and Ritzli, and the Handeckhorn to the south. At a considerable dis tance below the chalet, the Aar forms one of the finest wa terfalls in Switzerland. It should be visited during sun shine, between half-past nine and eleven o'clock, and from the bed of the river, as near the bottom of the fall as pos sible. From Handeck to the Hospice is a distance of two leagues, over a terrible road, which is three times crossed by frightful• though substantial bridges. About half a
league from Handeck appear immense rounded surfaces of granite, in which steps have been cut for the feet of the horses and of travellers. After travelling half an hour longer, we cross the fine Alpine pastures of Roderisch boden. At the last bridge, not far from the Hospice, the Aar suffers another remarkable fall.
The Hospice, which was built in 1557, is surrounded with frightful rocks, and is situated at a height of 5628 feet above the level of the sea. The keeper of it is allow ed to hunt in any of the cantons of Switzerland, and is bound, in return, to feed and lodge all travellers that cross the Grimsel. He remains at the Hospice from March till the beginning of November. He can furnish seven good beds, though there are sometimes more than a hundred candidates for them. Near the Hospice is a small lake called Kleinsee, from thirty-two to sixty-two feet deep. The Sassbach throws itself into.the lake in a fine cascade. After leaving the Hospice, the road continues to ascend for three quarters of a league, and at its most elevated point the height is 6570 feet. • The height of the Seidel horn, which is the highest summit of this mountain, is 8580 feet. From the highest part of the road, there is a fine view of the Furca, of the Galenstock, of the peaks of St Gothard, of the Gries, and of the southern chain of the Vallais, as far as Mont Blanc. The descent to Oberghes telen occupies only about two hours.
On the top of the Grimsel a reddish granite occurs ; mica slate appears in the southern face; and argillaceous schistus at the southern foot of the mountain. A singular grotto, filled with crystals, was opened on Mount upon the Zinkenstock, in 1720. It was the richest ever found in Switzerland: It was 120 feet deep and 18 wide, and contained crystals, of which a small number weighed nearly eight quintals, and several four ur five quintals. Several thousands of quintals were obtained, of the esti mated value of 30 000 florins. One of the largest of these was 32 feet diameter, 2.1 feet long, and one of its six faces 12 feet wide. It is now in the museum of Natural His tory at Paris.
The glaciers of the Aar are generally visited by the travellers that cross the Grimsel. in the month of Au gust 1799, the French ascended the mountain, and, after a severe conflict, drove the Austrians from their position on its summit. See Ebel's (Vanua ,