the south, with the summit of the pass lying on the cantonal boundary. The northern slopes of the pass are in the Bernese municipality of Guttannen, whilst the southern slopes are within the Valais municipality of Obergoms. The approach to the Grimsel Pass from the north commences in the small town of Meiringen (), from where access is possible down the Aare valley to Interlaken and Bern, and across the Brünig Pass to Obwalden and Lucerne. The approach passes the village of Innertkirchen (), where the road to the Susten Pass diverges, and continues alongside the Aare to Guttannen (). Beyond Guttannen, and still following the river, the road passes a pair of short tunnels to Handegg (), where the lower station of the Gelmerbahn funicular, the steepest in Switzerland, is located. After Handegg the road climbs through several hairpin bends and an tunnel to the Räterichsbodensee reservoir. A further climb brings the road to the Grimselsee reservoir and the Grimsel Hospice (). Here the final climb to the summit commences, with several more sweeping hairpin bends. At the summit are several hotels and an extensive area of parking. Here the road runs alongside the Totesee (), a natural lake that has been enlarged into a reservoir. To the west of the pass and lake is the peak of the Sidelhorn (), whilst to the east is the mountain range Schafberg (). From the Totesee the pass road descends steeply through more hairpin bends to Gletsch () in the most upper valley of the Rhône, the Obergoms. Here connection is made with the Furka Pass, connecting with the canton of Uri, as well as the lower level route down the Rhône valley towards Brig through the Goms. A short distance down the Goms are Oberwald () and Ulrichen (). At the latter, a junction is made with Nufenen Pass, into the canton of Ticino, and the Gries Pass, to Domodossola in Italy. Climate Due to the high altitude of the pass, and its continental location, the climate is cool or cold all year round, and receives a fair amount of precipitation year-round (the majority of which is snow). Snow usually falls from late September until late June, although during cool spells, it can snow at the height of summer. Most years, permanent snow fields remain at the pass, due to the temperature rarely rising above 15 °C. This area has