BACKPACK
SWISS BERNESE OBERLAND
On September 6, 2003 Barry Nelson and I flew from Baltimore via Detroit to Frankfurt, Germany. We took a train to Basel, Switzerland spending a night and then on to Gstaad, Switzerland arriving September 9. We met Pete Flaton and Fred Firman, fellow Mountain Club of Maryland members, in Gstaad. We four hiked for 8 days across the Bernese Oberland from Gstaad to Grindelwald covering an estimated 67.1 miles while climbing 24,700' and descending 23,325'.
We had some rain the first two days but then it cleared to afford us some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Each morning with the temperature usually in the 40s, we would climb to a high pass with great views in all directions surrounded by massive snow capped mountains before descending to the next town. The highest was Hohturli Pass at 9114'. All of the climbs and descents were quite steep some reaching probably 60 degrees slope requiring fixed cable or rope assistance.
We stayed in small hotels with half pension the food being typically Swiss and very good especially the soups. Our hotels in Gstaad, Lenk, Adelboden, Kandersteg, Golderli, Murren, Wengen and Grindelwald were arranged by Distant Journeys.
The four of us ranging in age from 60 to 70 worked well together as a team never getting lost and suffering only minor aches and pains during the first two days. We really enjoyed the scenery, the food, the atmosphere, the trail Rathauses and the Swiss people.
September 6, 2003 Saturday Fly via Detroit to Frankfurt
I got up and ran then ate breakfast of orange juice, banana, toast and milk as is usual for me. I showered and dressed in my hiking clothes of Cool Max golf shirt, zip leg pants, Cool Max shorts, mid weight hiking boots, wool socks and wicking liners ready for travel. I weighed my 30003" backpack at 23 pounds and my bike box at 58 pounds. I weigh 190 pounds which is about 5 pounds heavier than I should be.
The Nelsons arrive at 8:50 and after loading my bike box and backpack in their van we are off to BWI airport at 8:55. We arrive at 9:15 and Barry and I are checked in by 9:35.
We take off at 12:38 pm on NorthWest flight #1137 in seat 19D from Baltimore (BWI) to Detroit (DTW) arriving at 2:14 after flying 404 miles in 1:36 hours. We were served a small bag of pretzels and a can of Bloody Mary mix in flight.
We ate lunch of Sam Adams draft, chicken and beef quesadillas for $14.92 pus $3 tip at Chili's.
We boarded our NorthWest flight #52 in seat from Detroit (DTW) to Frankfurt (FRA) and left the gate on time at 05:40 pm. While taxiing we made a U-turn and returned to the gate to fix a warning light on a backup system. After topping the fuel off causing further delay we took off two hours late.
We were served some pretzels and a glass of Bloody Mary mix. Dinner of chicken, rice, carrots, roll and butter, salad, lemon cake, cheese, crackers and a Heinekin beer followed.
I napped fitfully through the short night during the 4140 mile 7:21 hour flight before landing in Frankfurt (FRA) at 9:20 am. We quickly passed through immigration before collecting our bike boxes then on through customs. We stopped at the Information booth and they called our hotel which sent a shuttle. I got 100 Euros from an ATM before the shuttle arrived about 20 minutes later.
After a 10 minute ride we arrived in Sindlingen at the Top Hotel Post Frankfurt Airport, Sindlingen Bahnstrasse 12-16, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from the US dial 011 49 69 37010 and from Germany 49 069 37010. Their email is info@airporthotel-post.de . We checked into room 413 which cost 98 Euros for the night. We stowed our bike boxes in the storage room for safe keeping until our return from Switzerland on the 19th.
Walked to the Dortmunder ECK in Sindlingen for a .4 liter Dortmunder Altier Brauerei E2.20, gulashsuppe E2.50, curry bratwurst with pommes frites E3.00 plus a E1.00 tip. It is rainy off and on. Stopped for an ice cream for E1.00. Ate supper of Jagrschnitzel, French fries, salad, mushroom soup and a Henninger draft for E21.00 in the Hotel Post restaurant.
September 8, 2003 Monday Train to Basel, Switzerland
Got up at 6:00 and it is raining, dark and 50o. Went down to the first floor for a buffet breakfast that is very complete. The 7:00 hotel shuttle took us to the airport terminal 1 where the train station is located. We boarded Inter City Express (ICE) train #271 at 7:54 from the Frankfurt Flughaf (airport) to Basel Sbb (Swiss Bundesbahn) arriving at 10:45 am traveling 2nd Class for $58. Our train made stops in Manheim, Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden, Freiburg and Basel.
We checked into the Swissotel Basel room 370, Messeplatz 25, Basel, Switzerland, 41 0 555 3333, emailus-basel@swissotel.com, for 194 Euros. Walked to Old Town and bought a baguette sandwich SFr7.50 and a Lipton ice tea SFr6.00. It is mostly sunny as I found an ATM to withdraw SFr100. Stopped in a bakery for a Schefen pastry SFr1.60. Took a #3 tram ride for SFr3.00. I see that gas costs 1.349 SFr per liter. It costs SFr1.00 to use a urinal and SFr2.00 to use a stall. Stopped at a second bank Basler Kantonnalbank and withdrew another SFr100 from a Bancomat. Ate an almond Megastar (Klondike Bar) for SFr1.60 before walking back to the hotel. Walked to the Rheinfelder Hof for .3 l Spezial SFr3.00, .3 liter Feld Schlossen SFr3.00, kase fondue SFr24.50 and a vanille eine keugal SFr2.80 plus SFr7.00 tip.
September 9, 2003 Tuesday Train to Gstaad, Switzerland
Got up at 6:30 and went to an elaborate breakfast buffet in the first floor. Caught a #2 tram to the bahnhof using the free pass given us by the hotel. It is cool and drizzling rain as it would be all day.
Caught InterCity IC-635 train at 7:24 at the Basel Sbb to Gstaad $41 2nd Class 3:15 hours 158 miles. The train made stops in Olten, Langenthal, Bern, Thun and along the lake to Spiez at 9:30. We passed through 3 or 4 very long tunnels as the terrain got very mountainous. Changed trains to a Regional Express RX-2364 departing Spiez at 10:28 stopping in Boltingen and then Zweisimmon at 10:58. We transferred again to a narrow gauge train D-2364 and the scenery continuously got more spectacular. We made stops in Saanenmoser, Shonried and then Gstaad at 11:28.
Walked to Posthotel Rossli, Family Widmer, CH-3789 Gstaad, Switzerland, 33 748 42 42 at 46o 28.575 N by 7o 18.068 E at 3560' elevation by 11:40. Martin checked us into room 230 which was small but very nice with a great view overlooking the square below. Walked around town before stopping in the Cafe Pernet for .3 liter (10.1 oz.) Quollifer SFr4.00 ($2.92), cheeseburger with onion and fries SFr17.80 ($12.99) , custard, strawberry and blueberry pastry SFr3.80 ($2.77). We got back to the hotel at 2:00 and met Fred Firman who just arrived. He told us their flight from BWI had been canceled and Pete missed the plane from Newark to Zurich. We three went to dinner of two .3 liter Schlossenfelder SFr5.00 ($3.65) each, salad with cheese, carrot soup, chicken, squash, fries and vanilla ice cream with blueberries and whipped cream at 6:30. We thought the trains had quit running for the day and we would see Pete tomorrow in Lenk. We were ready to go to our rooms at 8:30 when Pete suddenly appeared. We were excited to see him and we stayed another hour or so as Pete ate.
September 10, 2003 Wednesday Hike Gstaad to Lenk (2)
It rained all night and we had a cool breeze through our room with both windows open. We have a great view from our windows of a water trough with a bronze cow drinking from it in the cobbled square below and the chalet hotel with each floor balcony lined with brilliant red fuscia. At 7:30 we went downstairs to a buffet breakfast of fruit salad, yogurt, two brotchen, ham, cheese, butter, blueberry jam, orange juice and tea. Martin gave us a favorable weather report and three options for hiking from Gstaad. After some discussion we decided to hike the ridge trail.
We walked to the Co Op store and I bought 100 grams Ober Alpen kase SFr5.10 ($3.72), plum tart SFr2.30 ($1.68) and a curry chicken sandwich SFr4.95 ($3.61) totaling SFr12.35 ($9.02) on my Mastercard.
We left the Co Op at 9:05 in 55o heading out of town uphill on Lauenenstrasse before turning right upwards to Wassergrat lift. We followed the little yellow arrow signs and the white-red-white triangles to stay on the Wanderweg as it switchbacked up under the lift over 2000' vertical to the top at Durrischilt 1936 m (6350').
Although it stopped raining before we started, we were enshrouded in clouds walking up but they broke briefly at the top of the lift to afford us some great views of Gstaad a few thousand feet below. We continued to climb along the side of the ridge, spotting a spotting a 16" black lizard built like a dragon, with a vertical drop to our right to 2098 m (6881'), then to 2191 m (7186') and finally to Wandeflue at 2203 m (7226'). We came out on the ridgeline with steep drop-offs on both sides. There were a few momentary breaks in the clouds revealing more great views of the valleys on both sides.
We stopped for lunch at the end of the ridge ending some of the greatest hiking of my career. We dropped down some as it cleared and then up to go over Truittlishberger Pass for the very scenic descent into Lenk. We arrived at Hotel Kreuz 46o 27.436 N by 7o 25.870 E, Family Ischi, CH-3775 Lenk, Switzerland, 33 733 13 87, at 4:55 after hiking 10.7 miles in 7:50 hours climbing 4380', descending 4330' in 3 climbs.
A young red headed women speaking impeccable English bantered with us as she checked Barry and I into room 110. We removed our packs and muddy boots then went downstairs for a .3 liter Wortech SFr2.70 ($1.97). Washed my shirt, pants, underwear and socks as I will do everyday.
Went to supper of .3 liter Wortech, water, pate' and salads, consume, veal in mushroom sauce with sour cream on rice garnished with many kinds of fruit (delicious) and Teramasu at 7:00.
Today's hike ranks with my pantheon of great hiking which includes the Inca Trail in Peru, the Annapurna area of Nepal, the Chilkoot Trail in Canada, the Milford Track in New Zealand and the Wilderness 100 on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Except for a few minor aches and pains and a brief nervousness on the ridge everyone is doing great.
September 11, 2003 Thursday Hike Lenk to Adelboden (3)
Got up at 6:30 and packed up including my dry washed clothes. At 7:00 we went to buffet breakfast of orange juice, ham omelet, two brotchen and tea.
Walked a block to the Co Op to buy a brotchen SFr.60 ($.44) and a banana SFr.60 ($.44). It started raining lightly as we started hiking at 8:37 in 48o. We started climbing steeply immediately past barns and lowing cows creating a symphony of bells. We arrived at the Buelberg restaurant 1654 m (5426') before 10:00. We stopped for two hot coffees and two hot teas for which Barry paid SFr14.00 ($10.22).
We continued up to Hahnenmoospass 1950 m (6398') as the wind picked up and the temperature dropped to 40o. The restaurant was closed but we went in to the toilets and ate our lunch of cheese, brotchen and plum tart inside.
I turned left down off the ridge on the Vogellisi Weg. After a short spate of hale the sun came out and the wind died down for about 30 minutes. I dropped down quite a bit passing through fields and woods to a gravel road where I turned right. I climbed a while as it started raining. I traversed the end of the high ridge before turning left onto the trail passing under the gondola lift. I came to the trail coming straight down from the Sillberenbuhl lift station. Turned left descending to the joint station with the Berglingen lift. I crossed the stream and kept descending along the stream to Boden at the bottom of the lift at 2:30. On the way I had more rain, then sun and then rain again. I had trouble finding my way asking three different times until I crossed the stream and climbed up to Adelboden arriving at the hotel at 3:05.
My hotel is Sport Hotel Adler 46o 29.579 N by 7o 33.570 E, Kathi & Lothar Loretan, CH-3715 Adelboden, Switzerland, 33 673 41 41. I hiked 9.5 miles in 6:28, climbing 4010' and descending 3140' in two climbs. I was wet and it was chilly. The lady offered me a complimentary drink. I went to my room 206 and changed into dry clothes. I was served a .3 liter Cardinal in the lounge.
At 6:15 we had dinner a real gourmet event with great views of the snow capped mountains across the river. We were served a consume, perch with two small potatoes, pork filet with mushrooms and sauce, turnips, green beans, pasta, tomato cup filled with corn, vanilla ice cream and a bottle of white wine at SFr36.00 ($26.28).
September 12, 2003 Friday Hike Adelboden to Kandersteg (4)
Woke up to a bright sunny morning. Puddles from last night' rain had a skim of ice on them. Went to 7:30 breakfast of brotchen with butter and blueberry jam, tea, peach and pear.
Stopped in the Co Op for a banana SFr.60 ($.44), black cherry tarte SFr2.90 ($2.12), baguette SFr.75 ($.55) for a total of SFr4.25. At 8:43 we walked out of the CO Op at 1348 m (4423') in 48o and down the hill across the river. The sun rose above the Bunderspitz near the Bunderschinde. We climbed following a road enjoying the daily cow bell symphony before turning into the woods as it got steeper. Emerging from the woods it got increasingly steeper. The restaurant at Bunderalp 1755m (5758') was closed so we continued up.
We reached the Bunderspitz Pass 2456 m (8058') at 12:10. The scenes where we came from and towards Kandersteg were fantastic. Two hunters with rifles were there and four other hikers came by as we took pictures and ate lunch below the ridge out of the wind. We were going to climb to the summit of the Bunderspitz but decided not to as we found out we had to go up and come back taking an extra 45 minutes to an hour. With 3 ½ hours to get to Kandersteg we decided against it.
We started down very steeply with loose footing and a 1000' slope. Fortunately we soon came to a cable handhold. We reached a ridgeline with the trail switchbacking down which made it a bit easier. We descended in the open finally reaching a glacial stream which we followed down to the Alminalp restaurant. It was sunny and warm so we stopped for a .5 liter of Cardinal at SFr5.00 ($3.65)
We continued on briefly before dropping precipitously over the cliff through the woods. It was steep and slippery as we descended 531 meters (1742'). We were relieved when we reached the valley floor to stroll ½ an hour into Kandersteg.We arrived at the Hotel Bernerhof room 110 at 46o 29.813 N by 7o 40.463 E at 3800' elevation, Family Gerhard Lehmann, CH-3718 Kandersteg, Switzerland, 33 675 88 75, at 4:43. We hiked 9.6 miles in 8:00 hours climbing 1308 m (4290') and descending 1462 m (4797').
7:00 dinner of cheese soup, bacon keish, white fish, potatoes, fenel, rainbow ice cream with whipped cream and grapes. We had four .5 liter Gurtens at SFr5.05 ($3.69) each.
September 13, 2003 Saturday Kandersteg
Got up at 7:10 and we went to breakfast at 8:00. I had tea, orange juice, egg, four brotchen with butter and blueberry jam. Our wash didn't dry overnight so we put it in the dryer for SFr4.50 ($3.29). Sent Anne an email. Walked to the Primo store and bought two brotchen SFr1.60 ($1.17), cookies SFr3.75 ($2.74) and .242 kg (8.5 oz) Edame cheese SFr4.80 ($3.50) for lunch tomorrow and Monday.
We couldn't get everyone ready until almost 12:00 so we stopped in town for lunch of bescotti bread, blueberry custard pie and .33 liter Hopfenperle for SFr11.60 ($8.47).
We hiked back out of town across and along the Kander River the way we came in yesterday. We recrossed the river and watched several large groups of decorated cows and families in native costume bringing the herds down from high pasture for the winter. We ascended around the cliff face through two tunnels along a branch of the river into the Gasterntal Valley. We crossed the river twice before arriving at the Waldhaus. We sat outside in the sun and had a bratwurst mit brod und mustard with a .5 liter Gurten for SFr13.80 ($10.07). We walked the 3.5 miles back downhill to town in 1:15 hours climbing and descending 650'.
Stopped in the Primo store again for 100 g (283.5 oz) almond chocolate bar SFr2.20 ($1.61) and two more brotchen SFr1.80 ($1.31). Supper was a Greek salad, barley soup and bread, pork in curry cream sauce with rice and fruit slices, plum pie and a .3 liter Dunkelperle beer.
September 14, 2003 Sunday Hike Kandersteg to Griesalp (6)
There was a tremendous thunderstorm during the night. We woke up to clear skies and 42o. Got up at 6:27 and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of tea, egg, orange juice, ham, cheese, two brotchen, butter and blueberry jam.
Got off at 7:56 heading up to Oeschinonsee under the ski lift which was quite steep. The temperature dropped to 38o as we
climbed. We reached the plateau at the top of the lift and turned left up the high trail above the glacial blue green lake. We had great views as we traversed the face of the mountain to the far end of the lake.
We stopped for ½ hour at Bergli House for tea SFr3.20 ($2.34). We continued up steeply on a rocky trail on the grassy mountainside running into snow from last night's storm. We stopped for a long lunch high on the grassy/rocky area. I ate a brotchen, chunk of cheese and four small cookies.
After lunch we were soon on the black scree as the trail continued to get ever steeper and more snow. We heard two tremendous avalanches lasting about 30 seconds each about an hour apart. We climbed very steeply with a rope assist and stairs for some sections. We reached Hohturli Pass 2778 m (9114'). Incredible scenery in all directions. We can trace our route from 2 days ago behind us. We lingered for quite a while before starting
The first few steps were packed snow with nothing to hold on to. We soon reached anchored rope for several hundred yards down along the base of a cliff wall. There were a few sections of steps but it was very tense going. The slope moderated to about 45o but the rope ended so it was still very tense. We finally left the cliff face on our left and descended steeply down a black moraine ridgeline for a long ways. We saw two groundhogs as we ran out of the snow and passed onto the relatively flat grasslands. We continued down to Berghaus Golderli room 10 at 46o 33.029 N by 7o 45.876 E, Family Jost, CH-3723 Kiental, Switzerland, 33 676 21 92, arriving at 4:40. We hiked 9.5 miles in 9:44 hours climbing 5440' and descending 4600'.
We had two .5 liter Galopper beers (local) each at SFr5.00 ($3.65) per bottle outside in the sun. George told us we were entitled to a shower since we hiked over the pass. The shower was in the basement with a timer light which went off while I was in the shower and it was totally black. 6:00 supper of a great cream potato soup, salad, rice, peas, mushrooms in gravy and butterscotch pudding with ice cream. We shared a bottle of white wine for SFr18.00 ($13.14). We are very remote and high. The Berghaus is basic and rustic but comfortable. Lying in bed I can see through the open window the dark shadow of the mountainside and the bright stars just beyond.
September 15, 2003 Monday Hike Griesalp to Murren (7)
It got cold and I slept well covered with the eiderdown. Got up at 6:30 and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of yogurt with fruit, apple juice, tea, two slices of bread with butter and blueberry jam and a slab of cheese.
We got away at 8:00 walking back up the one lane road we came in on yesterday in 38o. We turned left onto the wanderweg at a farm and continued to climb but ever steeper. We climbed through grasslands finally reaching the black scree still partially frozen as the sun peeked over the mountain. Near the top we came to a long section of stairs with a cable handrail leading to the Sefinenfurke Pass 2612 m (8569') at 46o 31.892 N by 7o 48.777 E at 11:04. We had lunch of bread, cheese and cookies taking pictures of the snow covered Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. We talked to two young German hikers.
We passed about 15 hikers coming up from the direction of Murren on the way down. We stopped at Rotstock (Red Stick) Hutte for .5 liter Feldenschlossen SFr3.50 ($2.56) and a plum chocolate pie SFr5.00 ($3.65). We continued down steeply but easily as we switchbacked on stepped rocks.
We hiked to Hotel Alpenruh at 46o 33.545 N by 7o 53.848 E room 22, CH-3825 Murren, Switzerland, 33 856 88 00, at 3:25. We hiked 8.1 miles in 7:25 hours climbing 3730' and descending 3390'.
Walked to the Co Op for 290 g (10.2 oz) Gala apples SFr1.00 ($.73), 100 g (3.5 oz) almond milk chocolate bar SFr1.90 ($1.39), 220 g (7.8 oz) plum tarte SFr2.90 ($2.12) and 392 g (13.8 oz) bananas SFr1.20 ($.88). Walking back I ate a Magna white chocolate ice cream bar SFr2.50 ($1.83). 7:00 supper of salad, potato soup, pork steak in mushroom gravy, homefries with onions, red cabbage and fruit plate (grapes, strawberries, two plums, orange and kiwi) and .5 liter Kugen beer SFr6.25 ($4.56).
September 16, 2003 Tuesday Hike Murren to Wengen (8)
Slept with the door and window open and could see the Jungfrau glowing in the moonlight. Truly a magnificent sight. Got up at 7:00 and packed up. Today is a short and easy day. Ate a banana and orange from yesterday. 8:00 breakfast of tea, roll with butter and jam, roll with ham and cheese and orange juice.
Hiked through Murren at 9:10 following the rail line slowly down the ridge. We passed the rail station and continued for a while before turning right and descending steeply through the woods along a large water line and crossing under an incline rail several times. We descended into Lauterbrunnen village coming onto main street next to a bakery.
We went in and I had an apple strudel with .5 liter milk for SFr3.90 ($2.85). We walked under the railroad tracks in a tunnel and started climbing a one lane gravel road toward Wengen. About 5 minutes out of town we stopped at a shaded bench and ate lunch of brotchen, cheese, four wafer cookies and an apple.
We continued switchbacking our way up about a 20% grade that remained constant all the way to the Hotel Alpenrose room 207 at 46o 35.919 N by 7o 54.545 E; Family P. von Allmen; CH-3823 Wengen, Switzerland; 33 855 32 16; at 2:09. It is sunny and warm and we got hot coming up. For the second time we passed two sets of large tan and white cows coming down from the high pasture for the winter. The cows are decorated with bells and flowers attached to their horns. The drovers all family are dressed in local black costumes. We hiked 4.7 miles in 4:59 hours climbing 600' and descending 2850'.
Walked 5 minutes up the hill into Wengen and stopped in the information office. Got a local trail map and advice on tomorrow's hike to Grindelwald. Stopped in the Co Op and bought two bananas SFr1.15 ($.84), kiwi SFr.60 ($.44) and 250 g (8.8 oz) peanuts SFr1.80 ($1.31). 7:00 supper of consume, bread and butter, zuccini stuffed with minced meat, buffet salad bar, pork chop in gravy, cheese, tomato and plum tart with whipped cream and ice cream.
September 17, 2003 Wednesday Hike Wengen to Grindelwald (9)
Another great night of sleeping with the double doors to the balcony open. Got up at 6:32 and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of orange juice, tea, milk, hard boiled egg, two brotchen, ham, cheese, butter and blueberry jam.
At 8:12 walked up the mountain along the cog rail in 48o. Walked through Allmend and on to Wengernalp a stop for the train at the end of the high ridgeline at 1873 m (6145'). We continued up to the Kleine Scheidegg 2061 m (6762') a major stop at 10:10. We considered continuing up to the Eigergletcher but decided against it because Fred was having problems with congestion and we weren't sure about the high trail along the base of the Eiger wall.
We took the lower trail which was a dirt road in most places through Alpiglin. We stopped on a bench for lunch of brotchen, cheese, plum tart and an apple. We had great views of Grindelwald below sprawled along the entire valley. It is totally unrecognizable from the small remote village Anne and I stayed in 1969. We continued down to Grund and climbed up to Grindelwald and the hotel at 1:45. We are at the Hotel Sonnenberg room 208; Family Candela; CH-3818 Grindelwald, Switzerland; 33 853 10 15. We hiked 8.0 miles in 5:33 hours climbing 1600' and descending 2850'.
Walked through Grindelwald but didn't recognize anything. Stopped in Jametts Gourmet and bought two bananas two nectarines, two apples and 100 g almond chocolate bar all for SFr6.44 ($4.70). 7:00 dinner of oat kernel soup, salad bar, turkey, French fries, kohlrabi, chocolate pudding mold with cream and .5 liter Rugenbrau at SFr4.50 ($3.29) each.
September 18, 2003 Thursday Train to Zurich (Day 10)
Got up at 6:32 and packed up. 7:00 breakfast of tea, orange juice, milk, three brotchen, ham, cheese, butter and raspberry jam.
Walked down the hill and caught the 7:49 train from Grindelwald to Interlaken East. Changed trains to Bern then transferred trains again to Zurich arriving at noon. Grindelwald to Zurich Hb $53 2nd Class 3:30 hours 161 miles.
Met Pete and Fred near the train station at 2:00. We walked through Old Town and along the lake front. On the way back we stopped at Carol's apartment, Pete's daughter, at 27 Farber Strasse. Walked to Tre Cucine for a mixed salad, mushroom soup, meat ravioli, sundae and a .5 liter beer for SFr60.80 ($44.38). Today was bright, sunny and warm.
Back outside we started up to Laveygrat Ridge but turned right to traverse the face of the ridge to Sillberenbuhl lift 1975 m (6480'). Pete was having problems with an achilles tendon, Fred's knee was hurting so Barry fighting a cold joined them for a ride on the lift to Adelboden.
each. From our high perch on the plateau we watch the half dozen colorful paragliders circle over the valley for over ½ an hour.
down steeply probably 60o.
We started the gradual descent into Murren when we ran into Barbara Garner from the Mountain Club of Maryland who has been hiking with us on Wednesdays this year. She came to Switzerland with PATC and decided to stay another week and is headed to Rotstock to spend the night.
Walked across the river to Hotel Adler Zurich room 408 for SFr250.00 ($182.50); Rosengase 10; Zurich CH-8001; Switzerland; 41 1 266 9696. Our room is quite large and airy with sofa, chairs and two skylights with motorized open/close and shades. Ate lunch of brod, cheese, apple and peanuts.
COSTS ROSTER Trip Costs $1595.00 Plane tickets 558.68/2 $279.84 Train tickets 259.50/2 $129.75 Fred Firman 64 Columbia, MD ATM Cash $147.24 Pete Flaton 70 Millersville, MD Charges Hotels $306.33 Dan McQueen 64 Columbia, MD Charges Food $182.59 Barry Nelson 60 Columbia, MD Film .1295 x 93 $12.04 Pictures .1074 x 93 $9.99 Total $2662.78
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Last Updated October 27, 2003