Wanderweg

Wednesday, October 13

Hiking Adventure

Last night during McKayla's birthday celebration we met a fellow college junior from Idaho, TJ, and a British friend of Amie's from Oktoberfest, Steve. We made plans with them to go hiking this morning. We met the two guys at breakfast and then walked down the road to the train station, where we caught a train from Interlaken (576 m) partway up the mountain to Grindalwald (1034 m). It was cold and cloudy. From there we walked through town and then began climbing straight uphill through cattlefields on paved pathways/roads to Brandegg.

We then hit the true mountainside and followed a more traditional hiking trail upwards toward Eigergletscher. We crossed the couldline, could see blue skies, and the begining of many spectacular views. To our left (East) side was a large, snow covered cliff. Behind us and to the right (Northeast) were views of Grindalwald and more of the Swiss Alps. We hiked in hopes of getting past the cliff on our left and above the ridge, where the sun would be shining and where we would be able see the mountains in the South. As we walked, everytime we felt we were getting closer we also felt like the cliffside was getting longer and longer. While I (Erin) knew we could make it up past the cliff without a problem, I was worried as we hiked longer and longer that we would have a tough time getting back down the mountain (people don't die hiking up Everest, they die hiking down Everest... well some people die summiting Everest but you get the point). TJ and Steve were motivated to get past the cliff and were not phased by this thought, and so they pushed us onward.
I was glad they did so, I was very happy when we crossed over the ridge and could see the sun shining in front of us. We quickly walked into the sunlight and saw stunning views of the snow covered mountains to the East and South, as well of the town we walked up from. We were at an elevation of 2320 meters (1300 meters of elevation gain) and we think we walked about 6 miles. We enjoyed a late lunch in the sunshine, crisp fall air, and blue skies. While walking back down the mountain, the whole time we were all saying to each other, "wow, I can't believe how far up we walked." The hike was one of my favorite parts of the trip so far.

Dead tired, we rode the train back to Interlaken and stopped at COOP to pick up dinner food. Amie cooked up am amazing meal of sausages with onion, pepper, and potatoes. We fell asleep early and woke up today, Thursday, with extremely sore legs. The weather here is very cold and cloudy so we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then walked around town with Steve. Now we are catching up on our journals and chores while hanging out on the fantastic couches in the hostel, watching CNN with our friends.

New pictures from Interlaken, Switzerland

http://picasaweb.google.com/111756067304857775012/InterlakenSwitzerland

Lutry to Fribourg!! (57k)

So we posted our last blog on empty stomachs, waiting to head out to dinner in celebration of McKayla's 20th birthday (which is actually on Tuesday).  McKayla's sociable grandparents already have many friends in Lutry, including the Schneider family (Ulla, Phillip, and their two little daughters Helena, 5, and Jessica, 3).  The Schneiders are German but now live and work in Lutry, and speak perfect English, French and German.  They have been exceptionally helpful to us in planning our route to Interlaken where they used to live.  Ulla took us out to her favorite restaurant, Madame Lutz', which is an incredibly classy restaurant on the top of the hill surrounding Lake Geneva.  We sat underneath grapevines, looking over the glittering lights of the lakeside towns.  Words can't even describe how amazing dinner was, so I won't try, and we topped off the night with a "Tart au creme"  decorated with Smarties (european m&ms) courtesy of Helena and Jessica.

Saturday we soaked up our last day of rest and relaxation with the grandparents before our schlep to Interlaken.  We took care of our bikes (good for us!) and we planned our route and lodging for the week.  Dinner at home was unbelievable as usual (it's going to be tough getting back into our one-pot routine and eating with sporks....).

That brings us to today.  We took our time this morning, and finally left our beloved Lutry around 10:30.  Turns out the first part of our "bike" was actually a hike... I'm pretty sure most of these Swiss roads came into existence before governments regulated their grades, because we walked our bikes a few kilometers up a vineyard-covered cliff.  At one point, McKayla dared peddle sitting down.... which pulled her front wheel right off the pavement.  Our slow morning gave way to rolling hills and adorable, almost cliche, swiss villes.  The day was cold and foggy but the fall foliage is in full color right now!!  We had lunch in Oron, but didn't stop much this ride because of the cold weather.  We found the hostel in no time!  We've gotten SO much better at that business... Currently we are Internetten... guess where... MacDonald!!!!  Never before have we spent so much quality time in fast food establishments (granted, at a Swiss McDonalds you can buy a 12-dollar burger...it's much classier here).  Pretty soon we'll check into our hostel, cook some dinner, and have a relaxing evening.  We love and miss you all blog readers :)