Switzerland
Looking up the Lauterbrunnen valley at Jungfrau from Interlaken
Looking up the Lauterbrunnen valley at Jungfrau from Interlaken
Red paraglider in front of Jungfrau
Red paraglider in front of Jungfrau
The only way besides hiking up a massive cliff to get to Gimmelwald
The only way besides hiking up a massive cliff to get to Gimmelwald
Base camp for 2 nights
Base camp for 2 nights
Morning coffee on the deck of our pension
Morning coffee on the deck of our pension
Looking up the Lauterbrunnen valley. Gimmelwald (unseen) sits
high on the cliff around to the right about 1 mile past the waterfall
Looking up the Lauterbrunnen valley. Gimmelwald (unseen) sits
high on the cliff around to the right about 1 mile past the waterfall
Hiking around Gimmelwald
Hiking around Gimmelwald
Making friends along the trail
Making friends along the trail
Waterfalls, big and small, were all around
Waterfalls, big and small, were all around
Frontyard decorations in Gimmelwald. The village was so peaceful with no cars allowed
Frontyard decorations in Gimmelwald. The village was so peaceful with no cars allowed
The main drag in Gimmelwald
The main drag in Gimmelwald
Out for an afternoon stroll through alpine meadows filled with horses and cows grazing
Out for an afternoon stroll through alpine meadows filled with horses and cows grazing
Afternoon view from our pension
Afternoon view from our pension
An old phone booth in Gimmelwald put to new use
An old phone booth in Gimmelwald put to new use
We took the Jungfrau Railway up to JungfrauJoch. The north face of the Eiger (13,026 ft.) is at left, above train. Monch (13,475 ft.) is the peak on right
We took the Jungfrau Railway up to JungfrauJoch. The north face of the Eiger (13,026 ft.) is at left, above train. Monch (13,475 ft.) is the peak on right
Jungfraujoch is the dark structure in the saddle to the left of Jungfrau. It is Europe's highest train station, at 3,471 meters (11,388 feet) and has 2 million visitors each year
Jungfraujoch is the dark structure in the saddle to the left of Jungfrau. It is Europe's highest train station, at 3,471 meters (11,388 feet) and has 2 million visitors each year
Kleine Scheidegg - transfer point from regular train to funicular type train
Kleine Scheidegg - transfer point from regular train to funicular type train
Rising up above the treeline
Rising up above the treeline
Notice the gears in the middle of the tracks, necessary to keep us
from sliding back down the sometimes 25 degree incline
Notice the gears in the middle of the tracks, necessary to keep us
from sliding back down the sometimes 25 degree incline
Where the train enters the mountain
Where the train enters the mountain
The trains go through the Eiger and Monch. The tunnel is 7 km. long and it took 3,000 men 16 years to drill. It was completed in 1912 - 100 years ago!
The trains go through the Eiger and Monch. The tunnel is 7 km. long and it took 3,000 men 16 years to drill. It was completed in 1912 - 100 years ago!
View from the top looking south. This is the Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps at
23 km. (14 miles) long, covering 120 sq. km. (46 sq. miles)
View from the top looking south. This is the Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps at
23 km. (14 miles) long, covering 120 sq. km. (46 sq. miles)
Looking up at the summit of Jungfrau at 4158 m. (13,642 ft.), 2300 ft. above us
Looking up at the summit of Jungfrau at 4158 m. (13,642 ft.), 2300 ft. above us
Inside the ice palace
Inside the ice palace
Bears
Bears
Eagles
Eagles
Penguins
Penguins
Iceman
Iceman
Back outside in front of Jungfrau
Back outside in front of Jungfrau
We hiked this 3 km. long trail (the black dots are people). At this
altitude, and with the dodgy footing, it took us about 1 hour
We hiked this 3 km. long trail (the black dots are people). At this
altitude, and with the dodgy footing, it took us about 1 hour
Applying sunscreen along the trail. It was a beautiful day - about 80 degrees
Applying sunscreen along the trail. It was a beautiful day - about 80 degrees
We ended up at the hut upper left that has dorm rooms for climbers attempting the Eiger and Monch and a cafe serving warm soup and ice tea! The airstrip is for emergency evacs and aerial tours.
We ended up at the hut upper left that has dorm rooms for climbers attempting the Eiger and Monch and a cafe serving warm soup and ice tea! The airstrip is for emergency evacs and aerial tours.
You don't have to be a mensch to get up here. Schlep is a noun as well as a verb and this guy's picture is in the yiddish dictionary! We watched him slip and slide in his loafers.
You don't have to be a mensch to get up here. Schlep is a noun as well as a verb and this guy's picture is in the yiddish dictionary! We watched him slip and slide in his loafers.
Looking down at Interlaken
Looking down at Interlaken
On our way back down
On our way back down
Same afternoon we hiked from Gimmelwald to Murren
Same afternoon we hiked from Gimmelwald to Murren
Murren - again, only reachable by hiking or tram - no cars!
Murren - again, only reachable by hiking or tram - no cars!
Me little luvflower in a field of wildflowers
Me little luvflower in a field of wildflowers
Stacked firewood - who said the Swiss weren't anal?
Stacked firewood - who said the Swiss weren't anal?
Parting shot from Gimmelwald (notice witches on roof)
Parting shot from Gimmelwald (notice witches on roof)
Heading back down for the final time. These cliffs are very popular with base jumpers and paragliders. Not only are the views spectacular, they can hop back on the tram and get in quite a few flights a day.
Heading back down for the final time. These cliffs are very popular with base jumpers and paragliders. Not only are the views spectacular, they can hop back on the tram and get in quite a few flights a day.
To get from Montreux to Interlaken, we took trains in panoramic cars to enjoy the scenery
To get from Montreux to Interlaken, we took trains in panoramic cars to enjoy the scenery
We stopped in Luzern for a night before heading to Italy
We stopped in Luzern for a night before heading to Italy
Hey there fraulein!
Hey there fraulein!
Luzern by nacht
Luzern by nacht
Nice meal on the banks of the Reuss. Laurie is mimicking the chinese tourists at Jungfraujoch, who posed as if they had climbed the bloody mountain themselves
Nice meal on the banks of the Reuss. Laurie is mimicking the chinese tourists at Jungfraujoch, who posed as if they had climbed the bloody mountain themselves
After the Alps, we enjoyed leisurely strolls around Luzern
After the Alps, we enjoyed leisurely strolls around Luzern
Mark Twain said, "The Lion of Luzern is the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world." We weren't so moved but it is kinda cool.
Mark Twain said, "The Lion of Luzern is the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world." We weren't so moved but it is kinda cool.
1978 - In the backyard of the house where I lived with Vreni and her family for 4 months
1978 - In the backyard of the house where I lived with Vreni and her family for 4 months