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

Swiss Dream...

Swiss Chocolate Dream at the Hotel Oberland : Lauterbrunnen, CH

When we go to Lauterbrunnen, we like to stay at the Hotel Oberland. The owners, Mark and Ursula, and their staff, are lovely people and the food is outstanding! In fact, the best schnitzel I've ever had outside of Austria is to be had at the Hotel Oberland. This was our dessert one evening and boy, oh boy, was it YUMMY! The square cow on the chocolate on the right is the Hotel Oberland's logo.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

Glacier

Glacier : Lauterbrunnen, CH

Nothing like the sight of a dusting of snow on a glacier to chill you to the bone. This was in Lauterbrunnen last week on the Eiger.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

Impromptu Almabtrieb

Almabtrieb : Lauterbrunnen, CH

As we were packing up and preparing to settle our bill with the hotel, the cleaning lady came down the stairs and loudly pronounced, in English, "They're bringing the cows down from the mountain." Maya and I had been telling Rachel all about des Alpages (French) / Alpaufzug (Austria) / Almabtrieb (Swiss) and lamenting that her visit wouldn't coincide with events being held in Annecy, France, in October. Much to our delight, these smaller villages don't have an organized event and we were present for Lauterbrunnen's Almabtrieb this year! More pictures here. You can see last year's photos of the Alpages in Annecy here.

 Decorated for the trip down the mountain for the winter : Lauterbrunnen, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Hiker at Staubbach Falls

Sunbath : Lauterbrunnen, CH

I loved this woman enjoying the early autumn sunshine and the beauty of Staubbach Falls.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Lauterbrunnen

One of Lauterbrunnen's several hotels on the main road with 

Staubbach Falls in the background : Lauterbrunnen, CH

The Lauterbrunnen Valley is lovely and the village of Lauterbrunnen itself is quaint. We didn't get a lot of time to visit its trails and sights, but we did manage a walk to Staubbach Falls and an impromptu Alpaufzug (bringing the cows down from the mountains for the winter.) More photos here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Blick auf die Bergen von Mürren

Jungfrau at Sunset as seen from the terrace of the Hotel Edelweiss : Mürren, CH

The Schilthorn/Piz Gloria closes at 6:00 p.m., so we took the telecabine back down to Mürren. We stopped in at the Hotel Edelweiss, because they had a great view of the Jungfrau, the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and a simple repast of hearty bread, sliced meats and cheeses, and little gerkins and onions. Sunset from this point was lovely, as you can see above. To see more pictures of this moment of the day in Mürren, visit my Picasa Web Album.

 Prior to sunset : Mürren, CH

Also, I want to add a note of congratulations to my best friend, Amy Krauss, who is getting married today in Manassas, Virginia. I'm sorry I can't be there, but I'm sending all kinds of good wishes to you and Patrick! Congratulations, HB. xo

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Bergsteiger bei Mürren

Coming : Mürren, CH

As we transferred to the telecabine in Mürren to continue our trip to Schilthorn, I noticed this Bergsteiger returning to the village and another one leaving...

Going : Mürren, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Telecabine auf den Schilthorn...

Taking the telecabine from Stechelberg to Schilthorn : Lauterbrunnen Valley, CH

While we were in the Lauterbrunnen valley, we decided to take the telecabine up to the top of the Schilthorn. This mountain featured prominently in the 1968 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. To get to the top, you can take a telecabine from Stechelberg (3,024 ft / 922 m) to Mürren (5,412 ft / 1,650 m). You transfer to another telecabine from Mürren to Birg (8,783 ft / 2,677 m) and from that to another that carries you from Birg to Schilthorn (9,744 ft / 2,970 m). The entire trip, including transfers, takes approximately 32 minutes.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Isenfluh

 Der Blick auf die Jungfrau vom Isenfluh, CH / The view of the Jungfrau from Isenfluh, CH

High on the side of a mountain, through a corkscrew tunnel worthy of Disney's Matterhorn ride, and up a one lane road with infrequent pull outs sits the Alpine village of Isenfluh. Population: 70 or thereabouts. The town is serviced by a Swiss Post bus and there are a couple of chalet hotels. For those who live in this tiny little hamlet, this is the view they have to suffer day in and day out: the Eiger. Bummer, eh? To see a few more pictures, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10