Friday 12th June 2009 Bye Bye Zermatt, Hello Vevey

Up late!  0900!  Left straight after breakfast and headed back down the valley and back onto Route 9 which runs very close to the A9 motorway, but a lot slower route.  Tried to get a free internet connection in a couple of towns, doing our usual trick of driving around the suburbs and targeting blocks of flats.  Parking for a 6.5m van was difficult however.  Anyway there were plenty of connections but all secure.   Had more success at a place called Aigle though, the laptop latched on straightaway, always a sign of good signal and we were than able to pick up emails (239) etc, the first time we have had a connection since leaving the UK.  Logged some geocaches too and checked the bank account before moving on.   Weather was glorious and the first sighting of Lac Leman (Geneva) at Villeneuve was very pretty.  Then passed through Montreux and some other very up market wealthy areas before reaching Vevey.  We were heading for the Municipal campsite, we had eyeballed it on the way to the Alps, so we had an idea where it was located.  Signed in just after 2pm and were shown to our pitch, well it wasn’t really a pitch, just alongside the road way through the camp to the carpark.  Site was a bit tatty, but price was cheap and there seemed to be quite a few permanent caravans and campervans that hadn’t turned a wheel in years.  Well we opened our side door onto the grass and there was plenty of shade with our own tree.  This area could have been filled by tents though in very busy periods.  We could just about see the Lake through the tents and trees.  This site actually is in a lovely location and could be so much better.  Ahh, I forgot to mention the trains, there is a mainline track very close…..ohh I didn’t mention the gravel yard did I.  Luckily they get the weekend off.  Cycled down to Vevey, its about 21/4 miles and visited the Tourist Information for some local leaflets. Then followed the cycle path along the front.  This is a very nice place and one which we will return.

Overnight at – La Pichette (Nr Vevey) N46° 28.186’ E006° 48.548’

Thursday 11th June 2009 – To Zermatt

Peaceful night, no road noise, slight rumble from the waterfall, just the patter of rain above our heads. Back on the road nice and promptly and headed back down the pass. It’s a very easy run down to the west on Route 19. Then an unexpected highlight, the Furkepass. Turned out to be a bit of a gem. Not too steep, but went on for a long way with the usual tight hairpins. Summit was at 2431m, so higher than the Oberalpass (2044m) and the Sustenpass (2224m). A bit misty at the top, but tons of snow, I don’t think that it had been open for long. Saw some Black-eared Wheatear and other small birds that we couldn’t identify. We then continued down Route 19 onto Brig. Stopped at a Co-Op, it was shut, but managed a tank full of diesel on the automatic pump (32MPG). Then the next 3 small villages we passed through were all having some sort of religious event with people dressed up and lots of banners carried, one even had a band. We now know that individual Departments in Switzerland can grant their own Bank Holidays, today being one of them and the event being Corpus Christi.
The rest of the trip was just routine and the sat nav did a good job of avoiding motorways.
We had a choice of 2 campsites, which considering how touristy and well known the area is seems a bit lacking. The first on the list was at Randa, very open location, didn’t fancy it so continued on to Täsch. This campsite is next to the railway, but it looks more attractive so we pitched here. After a BIG soup lunch we cycled into Zermatt, it didn’t take too long with a slight uphill gradient. Zermatt was a BIG disappointment, much too touristy for us. Mind you there were some very posh hotels and apartments, as well as up market boutique shops. Not what we were expecting and not our cup of tea, so beat a hasty retreat on the bikes making the decision that we’d move on from here tomorrow (why did we leave the Lauterbrunnen valley??). Great ride back, very quick – Martin managed 32mph! Val paid for the site fees which turned out to be an extortionate 37Sf, another nail in the coffin for this area :o(
Chatted to a couple of senior Aussie who were parked up next door, seems that they spend 6 months a year touring Europe, followed by 6 months back home, keeping the nice Hymer stored in Devon in the meantime.
Also parked up opposite was a nice shiny black Landie with a roof tent with telescopic access ladder and side awning and a water container on the roof piped to a tap secured on the rear ladder. Plus all the accessories available from the Landrover brochure.
Overnight at – Camping Alphubel Täsch(Nr Zermatt) N46° 03.915’ E007° 46.495’

Wednesday 10th June 2009 Moving On

We parked down here last year!

T break near Oberralp Pass

More Alpine Fauna

Today we left the Lauterbrunnen Valley, paid the camp site girls the 255 Sf for our nine day stay and bought our bread rolls and some extra too. Gave David & Marion a lift to the station as they were hoping to get to Jungfrau today.
Drove to Stein Glacier, the route alongside the Breinzsee lake was very scenic – we stopped for a few minutes to watch a chap flying his radio-controlled float plane over the lake. Got to the gate for the glacier and paid the 5Sf for ticket. We walked up to the spot where we’d stood under the glacier last October and it’s collapsed, in fact the whole thing appears to have sunk….the effects of global warming perhaps?! Walked about photographing some different flowers, then drove up to top car park through lots of snow at the verges. Lunch and then back to main road, route 11. Sign had said, just as David had found out the day before that the Sustenpass was shut, but we noticed some traffic on it and decided that it was worth a try. Looks like the pass opened today, lucky for us! Stopped at the top of the pass as Martin had a geo-cache to locate, we found it but there was too much snow so had to be satisfied with taking a photograph. Dropped down the other side of the pass and then up the Oberalppass. Pulled in at the top to find the place where we parked last year and the place where are planning to stay the night – unfortunately was under about 5ft of snow, however there is a car park over the road next to the hotel. Anyway we have one more geo-cache in the sat nav, so continued down the Pass virtually to the bottom. Found cache ok, but access was a problem as there was an electric fence surrounding the site, keeping the sheep in. Then it was a return trip up the hairpins to the top. Pulled in at the hotel and went in for expensive cuppa T and coffee, and use of loo of course. Spotted a suitable parking area close to the wall of snow, so drove across the road to it. I had a wander out and just had to walk on the big bank of snow. Continued round to where we were parked up last year and on round towards the large waterfalls. Spotted something move in a large puddle full of melt water, it was a large frog, then saw another. Played around with them for a while before continuing. Then spotted large quantities of frog spawn in the puddles, clearly the frogs know that the baby frogs will be able to hop off before the puddles dry up and the snow banks are melted and vehicles can get through.
Watched a couple of black red starts and the black clouds rolling over (rain predicted for tomorrow), a quick game of bananagram (a draw) and that’s about it.

Overnight at – Top of the Oberalalp Pass N46° 39.625’ E008° 40.326’

Tuesday 9th June 2009 Uphill Cycling & Alpine Salamanders

Tuesday 9^th June 2009

Heavy rain most of night and woke up to it, luckily we only plan a lazy day before leaving tomorrow.  Topped up water tank, emptied the loo and waste water container whilst Val swept through the little house.  Did a little bit of planning cos up to now we don’t have a scoobie as to where to go, that’s all part of life in a motorhome I guess.   So a rough plan has now emerged…………all stuff we did last year, up the Sustenpass stopping off at the Stein Glacier where we went in some ice caves last year, then on to Oberalppass for a freebie overnighter.  After that maybe to a campsite near Zermatt, we will see, it all depends upon whether all the passes are open.

Soup for lunch with campsite rolls, we have been good and not eaten them all, instead have kept 2 for later.  Weather has improved somewhat, so I decide a trip out on the bike is needed.  Kit on, a couple of muesili bars, some wasser and off I go.  Managed a cracking pace in to Lauterbrunnen, scattering grockles.  After 8 minutes I turned off left, pass Hotel Siberhorn and start the climb up to Winteregg.  It was pretty steep but managed to keep out of the granny ring for the first 40mins, then it was granny to the top, reaching it in 3 minutes over the hour climbing a cool 2570 ft.  After a slurp, the track continued onwards up to Mittelberg another 600ft up, but on reaching I knew that it was going to be all downhill back to the van. Time to put the helmet on for a very fast dash down to Murren, this is great and after walking everywhere – very exhilarating.  Then continued down to Gimmelwald, narrow tarmac all the way, overtook another bike at great speed.  I stopped on the outskirts of Gimmelwald to pour some water on the front disc and he then caught me up and called me ‘crazy’.  Then it was pretty much downhill all the way to Stechelbeg and onwards to the van, progress being slowed at the end by a muck spreader, which there was insufficient room to pass.  The track from Gimmelwald was one that we hadn’t walked before, but looked quite pleasant passing through woods and following the Sefinen River.  So all in all a great run out 15.78 miles at an average speed of 8.1, max of 32.3 and total time of 1hr 55mins.  So arrived back much earlier than Val expected, caught loafing around reading my triple M!  Decided on an early tea so that we could go in search of the elusive Steinbock.  Mart went off for shower – shower got its own back!

After a scrummy tea (tinned pork goulash á la Lidl with extras) we set off on our expedition!  It was peeing down with the odd flash of lightening and rumble of thunder, but we were adventurers! Scaling our favourite trail, being extra cautious as it was a bit slippery and lots of water still coming out of the sky.  It wasn’t very long before Martin called out that he’d spotted an alpine salamander!  It was very black and shiny, also quite slimy…..yes, we had to touch one!  After that first one we seemed to see them every few steps, they obviously love the rain – not just damp conditions as we’d read.  Seeing so many of them (a couple would have done) made up for the fact that we didn’t see any Steinbock.  Back to Elvis and a quick change for Val who managed to get wet through to her knickers, then round to David and Marion’s with a bottle of red (only to discover that David is really a beer man, but he has started on ye olde rosé, so opened a bottle of that too).  We spent a very pleasant evening, those two have some very funny stories to tell!  A lovely couple, we left them around 11pm and Martin came back and started on the cheese and crackers – he’ll have nightmares!

Overnight at – Camping Briethorn Lauterbrunnen N46° 34.157’ E007° 54.521’

Monday 8th June 2009 – We finally get to see some Marmots

 

Based on the information that we got from the cable car operator yesterday and other info from our guide books, today we are going in search of marmots.  This expedition will involve quite a trek and require the use of bike, train, lots of walking and then bus before returning by train and bike.

Note: as I write this – a tatty Dutch Toyota Hiace has just parked right in front of us, there is loads of room here and they park there.  They have a large box on the roof and they are steadily emptying it. Now the awning is out, looks a bit of a lash up.  Maybe time to turn on the Led Zeppelin!  Martin is such an old moaner, bit of snob if you ask me – had it been a nice tidy motorhome there would have been none of these comments.  They remind me of our days in the old V-dub when we had an old awning – nothing wrong with that!

Anyway back to today’s challenge.  We cycled to Zweilűtschinen train station (via the TI office to put some money in the old bank account using their antiquated computer, mouse needs a right good clean!).  Secured the bikes in the bike shed and then only had about ten minutes to wait, after purchasing the tickets to Grindelwald, for the train to arrive.  Took about 20 minutes, everything on time and very organised.  The train actually stops right in the middle of town, so you just wander off to your chosen destination!  We found our route fairly quickly – just followed the signs for First.  It was a pretty steep climb out of Grindelwald on proper tarmac paths, all in the open, so it seemed quite tough – much easier to walk through forest trails where you appear to climb without really knowing it….well you do….it’s a mind game thing. Walked past a fancy piece of machinery that Martin was quite taken with, so lots of pics taken of that.  Our route followed the gondola ride which went to First…..how lucky were they sitting up there gliding past whilst we trudged on!  Still nothing to beat walking through alpine meadows and past the sweet bovine with their bells clanging.  The first station we passed was Bort at 1570m, you can hire ‘trotti’ bikes from here to ride down to Grindelwald (bit like large kids scooters that you stand on).  No marmots so far!  Onwards and upwards to Schreckfeld at 1955m.  As we continued up a couple of people came screaming down on the ‘First Fliegerr’, this is an 800m cable run where you are strapped into harnesses and then you whizz down the zip-wire from First to Schreckfeld!  We turned right just before the trail up to First and Martin was keen to have lunch whereas Val said “let’s keep going for another 15 minutes” BUT THEN Martin spotted a marmot!  That was it then, lunch-break within sight of at least three of the critters…..this was what the trip was all about (not really, it was about enjoying the fantastic scenery and walking in this beautiful area yeah right!).  After an enjoyable lunch with marmot spotting we set off for bus stop at Grosse Schiedegg (1962m), we came across a sign for the ‘Murmeltieral’ (which turned out to mean Marmot educational trail), off to the left, which we knew was a bit of a detour but we had read about a marmot colony near Schilt (2258m) – plenty of time in hand, so off we went.  The trail was another ascent but not too bad on narrow-ish well marked paths, across large areas of snow…. not much sign of marmots but we did see a lovely small bird, all white except for black wings and eye patch which we believe was a Black-eared Wheatear (there are apparently two types, one with just the eye patch and the other with a much broader band of black covering eye and throat).  We were just beginning to think that we might as well have stayed on the lower route when we spotted one, then two marmots running across the grassy tuffets and then there was the odd one here and there.   We then joined the other trail and continued towards Grosse Scheidegg.  Then, would you believe it…..there was a marmot on the path right in front of us, completely oblivious to our presence!  Martin quickly started to take pictures, the marmot was so engrossed in eating and licking something on the path that Martin was able to get very close.  How lucky were we?!  The rest of the walk to the bus stop was uneventful and when we arrived there seemed to be an awful lot of people waiting………..heck, would there be enough seats?  We needn’t have worried, 15 minutes later a coach-style bus arrived and we all piled on (21.50Sf single to Grindelwald) for the hairpin trip down the valley, only one near miss where a 4-wheel drive pulling a trailer full of mountain bikes and back-packs didn’t see us, luckily the bus driver gave a blast on his air-horn as we were rounding the bend and the other driver managed to pull out of our way!  Then it was on to the train, which was there waiting in the station and off at Zweilűtschinen and onto the bikes.  Val was not looking forward to the 3 mile uphill ride on the cycle track back to Lauterbrunnen, but with some expert coaching all went well and we were quickly back.

Pasta special for tea and a chat with the British couple opposite.

Overnight at – Camping Briethorn Lauterbrunnen N46° 34.157’ E007° 54.521’

Sunday 7th June 2009 – A Day of Various Modes of Transport

Well today is much brighter, not red hot though, but pleasant enough and we have the ‘big day’ which we had planned to do yesterday lined up for today.  This ‘big day’ has seen us on the bikes (about 5 miles), cog railway, cable car, bus and of course lots of walking, up-hill climbing over 3500ft to be exact.

So with packed lunch and all the kit we cycled into Lauterbrunnen, having 4 walking poles strapped to the crossbar was not such a good idea as once I had applied the back brake to avoid some grockles, the brake remained on, the poles nicely jamming the cable.  Anyway, cash machine first and then down to the station to buy a return ticket to Wengen.  We are getting lazy, as previously we would have walked to there, but it is a climb of 1500ft and we had much more walking planned.  So off on the train to Wengen, disembark 20 minutes later and found our path up to Mannlichen, a cable car station sitting high above Lauterbrunnen, in fact looking at it from the camp site as I type this, it looks impossible to actually walk up!     But walk it we did.  A nice steady climb on gravel track to start off, a quick geo-cache en route near a monument to Mendelssohn, only one lady muggle there and she seemed to think that Martin had gone for a pee as she glanced around at him in amongst the trees and rolled her eyes! Managed to drop off a Geocoin that we had brought all the way from Dorset and pick up 2 Travel Bugs.   Anyway not much further on and we left the gravel track for a much smaller footpath, through a bit of meadow and into the woods where the path got a little wider and easier.  Watched a pair of Alpine Jays for a while also a pair of Bull Finches, saw a Blackbird and heard a Cuckoo.  We were overtaken by a chap in a white cap – a bit younger than us, which could account for his speed and enthusiasm!  Managed to overtake him later when he’d stopped for a sit down on a bench.  It was very pleasant in the woods and although climbing it seemed relatively easy (or are we just getting better at it?).  ‘White cap’ overtook us just as we left the woods – he was also walking to the top, we wished each other luck.  Having left the woods we were now on more open meadows (more flowers), this was steeper going and necessitated a couple of stops – but we still managed to overtake another couple.  We were just wondering where ‘white cap’ had got to, probably at the top we reckoned, when there he was behind us!  Had a quick chat and it turns out that he’d left the path and went off in search of Chamoix.  He’d luckily seen a couple.  We told him about the Steinbock we had seen and he was interested to know where.  We asked if he knew where we could spot Marmots (not this side of the valley) and he told us the place….but neither of could remember later.  On we went, traversing back and forth, past the avalanche barriers, past a couple of groups of tourists on their way down, nothing much to see but heard the choughs.  We clambered around the last bend and were greeted with snow (on the ground).  No sign of ‘white cap’ – we carried on to our left and up a gravel incline to reach the top (7687ft), we were amazed – we had made it in just over two hours, it had taken much less time than anticipated.  The views were spectacular, surrounded by the mountains of the Bernese Oberland and with distant views of Lake Thun (Interlaken) to one side and Grindlewald to the other.  We decided to sit down and have lunch looking out over Grindlewald and watched a group of twenty-somethings set off walking in that direction, sliding and enjoying the snow that they had to cross to get to the grass beyond.  Then, we wandered back down to the cable car station and conveniently jumped straight on to one just about to leave. This short cable car ride back to Wengen cost a staggering 48Sf, thats £30 on the current exchange rate.  Spotted 5 Chamoix on the way down which was a bonus and also managed to quiz the cable car operator about where to spot Marmots.  Wandered through Wengen, bought some musical marmots and cakes and then cog train back to Lauterbrunnen and its still only around 3pm.  So then decided to get the small post bus up to a place called Isenfluh.  This is a small hamlet above Lauterbrunnen on the opposite side of the valley to Wengen.  With our pockets another 16Sf lighter (a tenner for a 12 min ride!!) we headed up this narrow mountain road.  En route the road enters a tunnel and does a full 360° inside the mountain climbing all the time.  Isenfluh, only has 30 buildings to look at, but we had a geocache to do.  This involved walking back down to the exit of the tunnel about 1 mile away.  It was raining too, so pack-a-macs were deployed.  After searching for about 30 mins we gave up and trekked back up an insanely steep path in order to catch the 17:13 bus back down.   All this effort for a geocache, we must be mad.  Once back in Lauterbrunnen we nipped into the Tourist Information Office and used their internet for 15mins (2Sf).  The machine was painfully slow and we didn’t actually achieve very much.  Then cycled back to camp.  There have been a couple of new arrivals, one German and the other British with a trailer tent, haven’t spoken to them yet.  Val gets another free shower.

Have now spoken to the English couple with the Disco and trailer tent, seem very nice.  Finished the night off with a game of Bananagram, Val won this time, score is now 2 -1 to me.

Overnight at – Camping Briethorn Lauterbrunnen N46° 34.157’ E007° 54.521’

Saturday 6th June 2009 Our First Rain

Well the predicted rain did come and it seemed to rain steadily most of the night.  Mist has also come right down into the valley, so no helicopter activity for the glacier/high level para glider drops today.  Had a big walk planned for today, but not much point with such low cloud.  Moved the van on to a pair of levelling blocks to let the shower onboard drain better, I wish we had a shower drain at both ends of the tray like some posher vans have.  Managed to chamois off the back end of the van after the rain had stopped so it’s looking quite presentable now.  Spent more time on a MMM suduko which seems extra ordinarily difficult. As wet weather routine was still in force, after lunch we walked to the Trummelbach Falls a short distance from the campsite.  Paid the 20Sf for 2 admissions and went in.  This river which pops out through the mountain is the one that we cross when we go up the crazy path opposite the camp site.  Anyway the paying bit was well laid out albeit a bit short on information boards.  There are many falls to look at, some directly accessible and some that you have to take a 500m journey in an elevator up an incline.  Must be a better name for it.  It was a pretty impressive take and you are strongly recommended to take a coat as there is quite a lot of spray.  The volume of water passing through small openings is very impressive and definitely non survivable should one fall in.  Walked back to the van, the rain had started this time and ended up changing the motor on my electric helicopter, now think it needs a new battery though. Off and on rain till the end of the day and lots of mist sinking right down into the valley.  Watched a DVD ‘War of the Worlds’ and that’s about it.

Overnight at – Camping Briethorn Lauterbrunnen N46° 34.157’ E007° 54.521’

Friday 5th June 2009 A Fairly Lazy Day..Yeah Right!

Found out that a dog has pooed behind the van, I’m not touching it!  Today was dedicated as a rest day!  So did some camp site chores and topped up the fresh water tank and emptied the grey water tank.Weather was warm and sunny, so lazed about for most of the morning reading the triple M (motorcaravan mag).  Took the bike for a quick run up to the cable car station and soon realised that cycling is a lot easier than walking the mountain trails.  After lunch we both cycled up to the end of the valley road to Stechelberg to recce another camp site there and then head back past our camp site and onto Lauterbrunnen and a visit to the Co-Op store.  It’s very small and packed with stuff and very difficult to retrace your steps in the narrow isle if you miss something.  Then back to the van, that short trip on the bikes racked up 9 miles and you get to realise how long the valley is.  Little wonder that we are tired when we walk back to the van from Lauterbrunnen.  Lazy rest of afternoon until about 1730 when we put our walking boots on, grapped the walking poles and set off the short walk down the valley to our favourite path up the side of the valley to try and spot some Steinbock (Ibex).  It was on this path on Tuesday that we came face to face with 3 fully grown Ibex.  We are getting used to this crazy path now and bounded up the tricky section making full use of the wire support rails.  Spotted a small piece of aircraft wreckage on the lower scree slopes so would be interesting to know what crashed here, a pretty unforgiving place.  After about 20 minutes and well up the path, Val spotted a pair of Ibex, the large 1m horns just give them away. They were a bit off the path this time, and soon just disappeared into the vegetation.  We continued upwards for a bit longer to a seat just before the path drops steeply to the Trummelbach falls.  Short sweety break before heading back down, no animal sightings on the return though, but did spot another species of orchid though.  Back for tea….tinned ham and salad with nice cake from the Co-Op.

Looking grey and rain now threatening.

Overnight at – Camping Briethorn Lauterbrunnen N46° 34.157’ E007° 54.521’

Thursday 4th June 2009 To the Waterfall at Sprutz

Thursday 4^th June 2009

Val collected the ‘ordered’ bread rolls and ordered more for tomorrow – seems the safest bet then we don’t have to leap out of bed at the crack of dawn to be sure of getting what we want.  Then followed breakfast and lunch-making prep, we managed to leave the campsite by 10am and headed for the cable-car station at Schechelberg.  Unfortunately we were distracted by first a bird calling from a tree and then by a companion goat with a group of young cows lying together (aaaaah, sweet) as we walked and we missed the cable-car by about a minute!  Luckily there was another one, so just had to wait until 10:55 (about 20 odd minutes). Whilst we waited other passengers arrived, amongst them about seven para-gliders loaded down by their chute bags, quite a mixed bunch.  They carried on when we disembarked at Gimmelwald (4472ft) for the start of today’s walk.

We followed the trail towards Schilthorn, through meadow and forest locating the turning for Sprutz.  The ascent was a steady climb, steepish in parts (but nowhere near as steep as the climb we did on the opposite side of the valley).  We reached Sprutz (5577ft) in good time and then made a careful descent to stand under the waterfall……impressive!  Up the other side for a drink and cake – necessary refreshments – then retraced our steps and joined a track heading up to Speilbodenalp, but then spotted a sign for Murren so took that.  We kept to this trail now – it forms part of the ‘North Face Trail’ which Martin is keen to do one of these days.  More striking alpine meadows with us trying to capture pics of butterflies – succeeded a couple of times.  We stopped in a meadow for lunch after spotting a brightly coloured Jay, hoping that he would return…..but no luck.  Onwards then, passing through Murren following the train track and heading towards Grűtschalp, where we planned to catch the cable-car back to Luaterbrunnen.  We were also on a mission to locate a geocache and thankfully eventually came across a sign pointing the way to Winterweg.  We had been on a descent but this route took us back up before descending again, past a couple of big heaps of snow – one over the steam with a big hole in it that we couldn’t resist throwing a rock or two at to see whether we could enlarge the hole (yes, we could).  Came across another flower that we hadn’t seen on the trip so far, so out with the camera again.  Onto the geocache, easy find once the GPS settled down, signed the log then carried on.  When we reached Winteregg (5178ft) we THEN came across a sign to Lauterbrunnen (one hour) and as it was only 13:30 decided to risk it and walk our way there instead of catching the cable-car.  The descent was by road and trail, Martin’s ankles were shot by now making each step painful, but he did the British thing, kept a stiff upper lip and carried on like a man!  We were lucky enough to spot an orchid that we hadn’t seen on the route down, so it was worth it you see.  Got to Lauterbrunnen (2608ft)  by around 4pm, having taken slightly longer than the advertised hour!  Quick look in Intersport to see what day bags they held in stock, they were a bit pricey so decided that it would be prudent to wait until we got home and then check out internet prices.  45 minutes walk to get to the campsite with Martin threatening to lie down every so often, but soldiered on.  Kettle on for a cuppa and a cold bowl of water for the aching feet were called for when we arrived back.

Overnight at – Camping Briethorn Lauterbrunnen N46° 34.157’ E007° 54.521’

Wednesday 3rd June 2009 – Yet More Walking

No breads rolls, ended up with bread (2.80Sf) Emptied loo, Brit van left so we moved pitches.  Even nicer than the old pitch and close to the herd of goats with bells.  Val did some washing.  knee much better.

Lunch at camp.

Walked to Lauterbrunnen along the path from the camp and went to the cable car station opposite the railway station.  Took the cable car up to Grűtschalp (5min trip and cost 16.40Sf for 2 adults) at least this saved 2200ft of climbing.  We then followed the Mountain View Trail which climbed steadily up to Allmendhubel.  Ok we like climbing!  This track crossed several streams that were flowing underneath thick snow, which was a bit unnerving as one had no idea how

Big Scenery

much of the snow was hollowed out underneath.  Once we got to Allmundhubel we realised that we quite close to geocache in the sat navs memory, so we continued the climb up a very steep bit of track to a small pile of rocks which turned out to be the cache.  Unfortunately the farmer has now separated the cache from the trail with a comprehensive electric fence. We then retraced our steps and picked up the track to Műrren.  This was an easy walk down entering the town past lots of holiday chalet type residences.  Many of the shops were shut and the town had the feel of just waking up after the winter.  We carried on the descent to Gimmelwald where we took the easy option and waited for the cable car to take up back to the valley floor.  Got there in time for the last cable car luckily (1830).  Met some Yanks there and an Aussie.

Back at the van by 1900, tired feet, but not as bad as yesterday.

Flowers seen

Alpina Floweratum

Birds seen black redstart, coal tit and something else

Overnight at – Camping Briethorn Lauterbrunnen N46° 34.157’ E007° 54.521’