The hills are alive

Some pictures from around town on the first day here

In the distance, covered in snow and cloud – the Jungfrau.

A generous portrayal of the over 60-year-old General Guisan, the leader of the Swiss forces in the Second World War.

A view towards Lake Thun.

(But weren’t the Swiss neutral in WW2?

Well yes, but they were surrounded by the Axis and Guisan figured you could never be too sure and beefed up their defences…now look over there, look at the lovely mountains!)

The following morning and it’s time for a day trip to the famous mountain village of…

Another incredible journey up into the mountains to reach it, but unfortunately I was too spellbound to take any pictures until the train reached the little station.

Grindelwald is surrounded by mountains, but one snowy peak particularly looms over it.

We’ve seen the Jungfrau, or young lady or Virgin. It is one of a row of three snow-covered peaks. To its east is the monk, or Monch. The monk has nobly (or ignobly, as some believe) got himself between the damsel and this mountain, the ogre.

The Swiss German for Ogre is Eiger.

You’ve noticed that one half of the peak is covered in snow. Apparently that’s easier to climb. The other half is the Nordwand, the notorious, iconic North Face, only conquered for the first time in 1935. The Swiss jokingly call it the Mordwand, the Murder Wall.

Hmm, at least 64 climbers since 1935…how many before that…maybe they aren’t joking?

Gulp.

We won’t be going anywhere near that thank goodness, but we have our own challenge. Up the main drag, turn left…

…been a while since I’ve been in one of these…

At the top is the outdoor activity area of Grindelwald-First, from where you can ride bikes, trip-wire, do scary cliff walks – or just hike. Which is what we’re going to do. An easyish walk up to Bachalpsee, 50 mins, a 300-foot climb in total, but well worth it.