Pete Truman attempts the legendary challenges of the Jungfrau region by skiing rather than climbing

His name is Jokke and I’ve just seen a video of him doing the seemingly unthinkable with a pair of skis and a parachute.

When we meet, he’s on on his way up the mountain in Wengen, Switzerland to do the same again. He’s a speed flyer – skiing off mountains with the parachute and then passing through tiny crevasses before hitting the snow once more.

There must be something in the Swiss air, for pushing the limits seems a national pastime. I’ve just left Interlaken, known as a mecca for extreme sports such as base jumping.

My legs are still aching from my morning traversing the infamous Lauberhorn World Cup downhill course, or at least the sections my novice skiing skills can handle.

The pros hurtle themselves down the side of the mountain, reaching speeds of more than 100mph, over a gruelling 2.78 miles – the longest in the world – pushing their bodies to the limit.

Standing at the starting gate, which even the most amateur of skiers can enjoy, looking down, I cannot comprehend the bravery of those lycra-clad men and women.

Perhaps they draw inspiration from the mighty Eiger and its North Face that towers over several slopes in the Jungfrau region.

Yet the climbers keep coming back despite the infamy of the North Wall.

Those looking for a break from the slopes can venture to the highest train station in Europe – Jungfraujoch – a feat of human engineering. What drives a man to decide to build a railway up a mountain?

It is hard to believe the track was laid more than 100 years ago. Some workers never got to see the fruits of their labour, dying during the construction process – a memorial naming the victims stands in the Jungfraujoch complex.

More incredible is that the service still runs like clockwork, climbing to 3,454m through snow and ice.

The gleaming metal structure looks like a Bond villain’s hideout, perched on top of the mountain surrounded by the sort of inclines only a special agent could ski down.

While sections of the station are unashamedly touristy and designed to part you from as much cash as possible, other areas are worth the train fee and the light headedness from the altitude.

The tour includes a walk cut through a glacier, which requires constant monitoring to keep the passageways passable as the huge ice sheet slowly moves down the mountain.

Of course, you don’t have to push yourself to the edge by scaling the heights of Jungfrau or skiing off a cliff. There are plenty of gentle blue slopes to meander down while taking in the spectacular mountain views all around.

The runs are not as wide and expansive as others but there are few places you can ski with so many stunning peaks surrounding you, making you feel cocooned by rock and ice.

If you’re lucky enough to have a day of fresh powder the day before, the slopes embrace your every turn and caress your skis with a feeling like moving on silk.

With cable cars connecting Grindelwald First, Kleine Scheidegg and Mürren-Schilthorn there is plenty of choice of pistes.

And at the end of a day on the mountain, there’s always the opportunity to relax with some of the après-ski on offer.

The cute Swiss mountain town of Grindelwald is a great choice, with rail connections to Interlaken and beyond to Geneva or Zurich while also running services up the mountain.

We stayed at The Chalet-Hotel Gletschergarten in Grindelwald a wonderful, traditional, accessible and comforting respite away from the athleticism being demonstrated outside on the slopes.

With only a handful of small but accommodating bars, the town is thankfully not the raucous party in the Alps some other resorts tend to become after 10pm.

Nor is there the chic posturing crowd with shops selling eye-poppingly expensive gear.

Instead, the town has a small number of unassuming bars and restaurants such as Onkel Tom’s Hutte, with friendly service, great food and old wooden decor.

The beer definitely tastes nicer after a hard’s day ski – parachute optional.

The facts:

  • Return flights from London to Geneva, or Zurich, with SWISS are available from £82. www.swiss.com
  • Transfer ticket from airport 141 CHF (£98). Chalet-Hotel Gletschergarten in Grindelwald from 200 CHF (£139) for Twin Room for 2 people + breakfast. hotel-gletschergarten.ch
  • Jungfrau 3-day ski pass from 198 CHF (approx. £137)
  • go to jungfrau.ch/en-gb/ for more info or read here...