Tuesday
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“Are you going to come out from under that bed, Jeffrey or should I drag you from there?” our editor, in a fiery mood, called. It all started when she informed us that today’s hike would be all of 8.5 hours. Should a person have to suffer this much? Fortunately, our editor is a reasonable person and she reduced it to ‘only’ 5 hours because she suspected the snowfall overnight might cause added obstacles. She didn’t know that we were actually holding out for 6 hours. Tough guy! Something to be said for the correctly ‘pitched tantrum’
In order to reduce the hiking time, we took a gondola to Schreckfeld. Perhaps we really are slowing down but it was the first time. The hike was over eight miles but the going for two hours was in heavy snow (ground only) and on a very tricky and slippery trail.
In this locale, the trails are either mountain walks, which are very steep but reasonably smooth; or mountain trails in which case they are quite rough and very steep. The lower elevations, on the first two days after arrival, were clear of snow. It has snowed each night since, making the mountains look even more attractive.
We sat at our destination, Bachalpsee, mesmerized again by the magnificence. Overnight, the Almighty Choreographer sent down the snow. While we sat at the lake, a gentle wind blew clouds over the peaks like the curtain closing in a theatre.
The Eiger peeking through
Finsteraarnhorn peeking throughThen the curtains opened and the players reappeared to provide us entertainment of incalculable value. This continued but each change was unique.
The route down to Grindelwald is a long distance so we decided to leave early—these days we seem to be eating ‘peanuts on the run’. The trail was challenging but inspiring. To look around and see dramatic sights that keep improving by the minute brings a tear to the eye and a lump in the throat. We were alone on the latter part of the hike for nearly two hours, just the Alps and ourselves.
We think it brings one closer to the Master, a very comfortable and honor-filled state. However, life is not without balance and irony. After enjoying such an experience, we put our foot into it. Yep. We stepped on the biggest piece of fresh cow dung that we have seen. We looked up and thought: Hashem has a great sense of humor, too.
We always ponder when we are on the slopes and today was no different. We thought of Seabiscuit, a former great American racehorse. We remember what his trainer said of him: ‘He just likes to run’. Not in the same league of course, we find that the titanium hip is showing a similar characteristic—it wants to move. We think of and are thankful to Dr. Norman who gave us this opportunistic hip.
We arrived back in Grindelwald in high spirits, elated and only a little weary as we headed for the provisions store. It is said that man cannot live on bread alone. Well, just add in salad and yoghurt and you’ll find he and she can. There’s not much else for us to eat but we are doing well.
FinsteraarhornCheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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