I had been looking forward to the clear mountain air of Switzerland for months. It is more than a breath of fresh air, I think it may be the most beautiful place I have ever been. It is like 5x better than Yosemite combined with the Canadian Rockies. Everywhere you turn is a picture post card. I couldn't count how many 100+-foot waterfalls I saw today.
The steep pastures look so verdant, I almost wish I were a cow. This must be cow paradise. The milk here has got to taste better. The cows and goats all wear bells, I'm guessing so they can be located.
We are staying at a hostel in Interlaken nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienze.
We visited the small village of Gimmelwald via train, bus and gondola. From there we hiked 2 miles up (1,000 feet) through alpine meadows to the village of Murren for biers and milkshakes and then back down to the Gimmelwald. Gimmelwald has 120 residents and appears to be a working town. Everyone had wood laid in and many were working to bring in hay from very steep slopes. They use unimogs, ingenious articulated vehicles, to transport goods including hay. Murren is at 5,400 feet elevation and has a population of 540.
This is the first place we've been on this trip where people really have to deal with winter. The thought and effort required really shows.
Lake Brienze from the train
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm
Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald
Wild flowers are everywhere
The view from our picnic lunch (included fresh Swiss cheese and Swiss strawberries and raspberries)
View of Jungfrau, the valley's dominating mountain
The Eiger from Murren
The Eiger from Murren
The Eiger from Murren
The Eiger and Jungfrau from Murren
The gondola down
A waterfall from the valley floor
A river white with glacial floque (rock flour)
The steep pastures look so verdant, I almost wish I were a cow. This must be cow paradise. The milk here has got to taste better. The cows and goats all wear bells, I'm guessing so they can be located.
We are staying at a hostel in Interlaken nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienze.
We visited the small village of Gimmelwald via train, bus and gondola. From there we hiked 2 miles up (1,000 feet) through alpine meadows to the village of Murren for biers and milkshakes and then back down to the Gimmelwald. Gimmelwald has 120 residents and appears to be a working town. Everyone had wood laid in and many were working to bring in hay from very steep slopes. They use unimogs, ingenious articulated vehicles, to transport goods including hay. Murren is at 5,400 feet elevation and has a population of 540.
This is the first place we've been on this trip where people really have to deal with winter. The thought and effort required really shows.
Lake Brienze from the train
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Interlaken from Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm
Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald
Wild flowers are everywhere
The view from our picnic lunch (included fresh Swiss cheese and Swiss strawberries and raspberries)
View of Jungfrau, the valley's dominating mountain
The Eiger from Murren
The Eiger from Murren
The Eiger from Murren
The Eiger and Jungfrau from Murren
The gondola down
A waterfall from the valley floor
A river white with glacial floque (rock flour)
The view from my bunk in our hostel
Wow! Just wow!
ReplyDeleteWe went up to Jungfrau on our trip there, it was fun! I also remember Switzerland being ridiculously picturesque. I assume you guys saw there was just an attack at Luxor at a site you visited, scary.
ReplyDelete