Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB
Eiger Ultra Trail E101
Grindelwald
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Eiger Ultra Trail E101 is a 101 km mountain ultra with 6,474 m of climbing that loops through the heart of the Bernese Oberland, starting and finishing in Grindelwald. Sanctioned by UTMB, it is defined by its relentless elevation profile — an average of roughly 64 m of gain per kilometre — and an unforgettable cast of alpine landmarks: Grosse Scheidegg, Faulhorn, Schynige Platte, Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg all feature on the route, all of them above 1,900 m. The race high point sits at 2,677 m, and the course never really lets you rest, alternating between long ridge traverses, steep valley descents and punishing re-ascents throughout a full day and into the following night.
Course & Terrain
The E101 is split into two very different halves. The first 41 km takes runners from Grindelwald up to Grosse Scheidegg (1,946 m) at 16 km, across to First (1,958 m) at 22 km, then up to the Faulhorn (2,332 m) at 28 km — the course high point region — before a long ridge traverse drops down to Schynige Platte (2,073 m) at 41 km. This opening section is almost entirely above 1,900 m and covers classic alpine singletrack: rocky ridgeline paths, grassy ramps and exposed traverses with significant technical footing. The second half adds a brutal layer of vertical: from Schynige Platte the course plunges roughly 1,200 m down to the valley floor at Burglauenen (896 m, 55 km), before the legs are asked to climb back up to Wengen (2,111 m, 72 km) and then to Wixi / Kleine Scheidegg (2,297 m, 82 km). The final stretch descends via Eigergletscher (1,505 m, 89 km) back to Grindelwald, finishing on well-worn mountain paths used by generations of alpinists. Trail surfaces range from manicured Swiss hiking paths to loose scree and root-laden forest tracks lower in the valley.
Decisive Climbs & Descents
Three moments define whether your E101 goes well or badly. First, the climb to Faulhorn at 28 km: arriving there having already covered 28 km and nearly 1,300 m of gain, many runners push too hard chasing the Grosse Scheidegg cut-off (Sat 07:30) and arrive at Faulhorn with tired legs well before the halfway point. Preserve yourself here. Second, the long descent from Schynige Platte to Burglauenen — over 1,100 m of drop in roughly 14 km — is quad-shattering and the point where blowing out your legs guarantees a death march through the night. Run this descent with discipline. Third, the re-ascent to Wengen and then on to Kleine Scheidegg between 55 km and 82 km totals well over 1,400 m of climbing after 55 km of racing; this is where races are lost. Runners who arrive at Burglauenen (the crew point at 55 km) in a controlled state can reassemble, refuel and attack this section — those who arrive wrecked will face an extremely tight path to the Wixi / Kleine Scheidegg cut-off of Sat 23:30 and the Eigergletscher cut-off of Sun 01:30.
Pacing Strategy
With cut-offs beginning as early as Sat 07:30 at Grosse Scheidegg (16 km), the race imposes an early pace floor — you cannot afford to start conservatively if you are anywhere near the time limits. Work out your target pace for the opening 16 km before race day and commit to it. Beyond Grosse Scheidegg, the smarter play is to bank effort rather than time: hike the climbs efficiently, run the flats and runnable ridgelines, and resist the urge to open up on descents before Burglauenen. The section from Burglauenen to Wengen (55–72 km, roughly 1,200 m climbing) is the acid test of pacing discipline; runners who have gone out conservatively will pass competitors here. The Wengen cut-off (Sat 20:30) and Kleine Scheidegg cut-off (Sat 23:30) leave relatively little margin in the back half, so losing chunks of time on the big climb to Wengen is dangerous. Plan for 22–30 hours depending on ability, and use the crew access at Burglauenen (55 km) and Wengen (72 km) to execute a rehearsed transition.
Fuelling & Nutrition
Six hundred and forty metres of climbing per ten kilometres means your caloric demand is extremely high and consistent throughout the E101. Do not rely on appetite to drive eating — it will fail you after 50 km. Establish a feeding interval (every 30–40 minutes) and stick to it regardless of how you feel. The three crew-accessible aid stations — Grindelwald (start), Burglauenen (55 km) and Wengen (72 km) — are your main opportunities to restock drop bags and receive crew support. Use Burglauenen, in particular, as a proper pit stop: change socks and shoes if needed, top up calories, check headtorch batteries and reset mentally. Hydration demands are variable: the upper alpine sections above 2,000 m can be cool and deceptively dry, suppressing thirst while sweat rates remain high. Carry enough fluid capacity to cover the longer gaps between checkpoints — especially the stretch from Schynige Platte (41 km) to Burglauenen (55 km) and from Wengen (72 km) to Kleine Scheidegg (82 km).
Conditions to Expect
The Bernese Oberland is notorious for rapid, dramatic weather changes, and the E101 spends the bulk of its distance above 1,900 m where conditions can deteriorate fast. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer; the window from mid-race around Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg often coincides with the late evening, when temperature can drop sharply even in August. Pack a proper waterproof, warm mid-layer, gloves and hat — mandatory kit lists for UTMB-series races exist for good reason here. The Faulhorn ridge and the Kleine Scheidegg approach can be exposed to wind and, in poor years, residual snow. Night sections between roughly Wengen (72 km, Sat 20:30 cut-off) and Grindelwald finish cover technical alpine terrain in the dark; a powerful headtorch with a backup is essential. Early-race sections up to Grosse Scheidegg and First may be run in morning light with relatively mild conditions, but do not let a fine start lull you into under-packing.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 1034 m · —
8.8 km · 1956 m · —
18 km · 1562 m · —
23.6 km · 2167 m · —
30 km · 2131 m · —
35 km · 2677 m · —
40.5 km · 2130 m · —
48.3 km · 1559 m · —
54.7 km · 899 m · —
63.6 km · 1276 m · —
68.4 km · 2225 m · —
78.6 km · 2046 m · —
82.4 km · 2329 m · —
90 km · 1335 m · —
96.4 km · 1389 m · —
100.7 km · 1035 m · —
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