Blick von Kleine Scheidigg...

Blick von Kleine Scheidigg, CH

Once we arrived in Kleine Scheidigg, this was the view that greeted us: The Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger in all their ginormous glory!

Eiger Reflection : Kleine Scheidigg, CH

Blick auf Grindelwald im Tal : Kleine Scheidigg, CH

Not only is there a great view of this magnificent Alpine trio, but from Kleine Scheidigg, you can look down the valley and see the town of Grindelwald. If you click on the photo, you can see it off in the distance at the foot of the mountains.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/11

Wengen to Kleine Scheidigg

 

On the Ascent from Lauterbrunnen, looking down the valley :
Lauterbrunnen, CH

On Monday, we decided to ride the cog train from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidigg. The 50-minute ride takes you through the town of Wengen and to the base of Switzerland's three most famous peaks after the better-known Matterhorn: the Jungfrau (Virgin), Mönch (Monk), and Eiger (Ogre). I'm sure there's some legend behind the names of the peaks, but I couldn't find anything.

The Jungfrau with a altocumulus lenticular cloud formation atop its summit :
Kleine Scheidigg, CH

Cog Train ascending... : Wengen, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/11

An Unplanned Vacation

View of the Alps : Schilthorn, CH

Recently, work has been, shall we say, bureaucratic, so we decided to take a few days and get away to the Alps. Friend and colleague Mary C. was in town from Atlanta. She and her husband used to live in Oxford, UK, but had never been to the Alps before. We rang up Mary and asked her if she'd like to join us today as long as she was willing to ride the train back to Geneva at the end of the evening. She enthusiastically said, "Yes!" So, off we went. Here are a couple of pictures taken from the top of the Schilthorn--10,000 ft above sea level!

Alpine flora : Schilthorn, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/11

The Alps a la Apple

 The Monch and a Paraglider : Mürren, CH

We took Sheryl to Lauterbrunnen and rode the Luftseilbahn to the top of the Schilthorn. Afterwards, we rode the 'bahn back down to Mürren and enjoyed watching the paragliders and eating rosti with Raclette cheese! I've already shot albums-full of pictures in this area, so I mostly left the camera in my bag and used my Apple iPod Touch instead.

The view from Piz Gloria : Schilthorn, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

Mont Blanc Capped

Mont Blanc : As seen from Ferney-Voltaire, FR

To find a view of Mont Blanc that isn't sullied by high tension wires is a treat. This view can be seen not too far from border of Ferney and Ornex, France, and Collex, Switzerland. I never tire of seeing this magnificent mountain when it's out.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/11

Mont Blanc Wow!

Mont Blanc : Crozet, FR

The weather on Saturday was absolutely spectacular and the best part was, the mountain was out. The mountain I speak of is Mont Blanc--Europe's highest mountain. The view of Mont Blanc from Crozet was simply stunning!

Mont Blanc and the French Alps as seen from Crozet, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

Mont Blanc Sunrise

Sunrise and the western face of Mont Blanc : Geneva, CH

The other morning, on the ride into work, I enjoyed a lovely sunrise over Mont Blanc. I ran up to the terrace on the building where I work and snapped a few photos. They're not the greatest and hardly do this impressive massif justice, but I liked the light. Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe, and the EU. The mountain rises 15,781 feet (4,810 meters) above sea level. It straddles the French and Italian borders and the two countries still dispute who "owns" the summit.

Sunrise over Lake Geneva : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 3/10

2 Things Challenge: Ugly / Pretty

 Urban tagging... ugly or pretty? : Martigny, CH

This week's 2 Things Challenge is Ugly / Pretty. I snapped these photos in Martigny, Switzerland, last Sunday. I liked the juxtaposition of the beauty of the Alps and the ambiguity of urban tagging.

Urban tagging and the Swiss Alps : Ugly / Pretty? : Martigny, CH

Want to join in the fun? Visit 2 Things Challenge. Next week's two words are: Animal / Vegetable.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/10

Interlaken und Brienzersee

 Lone Fisher : Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland : Canton Bern, CH

Located in the Bernese Oberland, Interlaken lies midway between two Swiss lakes: Thunsee (Lake Thune) and Brienzersee (Lake Brienz.) There are a number of gasthofs for overnighting and lakeside villages worth visiting. If you're willing to go as far as Brienz, you can also see Ballenberg, a park which recreates the regions of Switzerland and features architecture, food, crafts, animals, industries, and costumes unique to each region.

 Winter fountain in Interlaken and the Eiger in the background : Canton Bern, CH

This area is home to three of Switzerland's most famous peak's: the Jungfrau (Virgin), Monch (Monk), and Eiger (Ogre) and is also the location of the Schilthorn, billed as "The Top of Europe." The Schilthorn featured rather prominently in the 1969 James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", starring one-time Bond, George Lazenby, and the beautiful Dame Diana Rigg.

To see a few more shots of this area in winter, please visit my Picasa Web Album.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

The Mountain's Out!

The mountain's out! (Center of the photo) : Mont Blanc, all 15,000+ feet of it, visible from the Jura Mountains.

For the last few days (and on the Saturday that we went up to Col de la Faucille), Mont Blanc has been visible. The skies were mostly clear and blue all weekend and into the first part of last week, which allowed us to see one of Europe's highest peak. At 15,000+ feet above sea level, it's quite impressive!

Pulling over to view Mont Blanc!

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Mont Blanc Tunnel

Mont Blanc... In the Clouds

This past weekend, my friends Sue and Cindy and I went to Aosta, Italy, for a day of shopping and dining. I'll be doing a series of photos from Aosta for the next few days. These first photos are of the approach to and the entrance to the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

Construction on the tunnel started in 1942 and opened to traffic in 1965. It connects France with Italy and passes through the French-Italian Alps under Mont Blanc--Europe's highest peak at 15,781 ft (4,810 m) above sea level. In 1999, a Belgian semi-truck hauling flour and margarine caught fire. The ventilation system in the tunnel failed and 39 people lost their lives.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 06/09