Between the Lakes

Between the lakes lies a town that is known as Interlaken. I decided I should visit it before I left for Euroland, so I did. I need a word even more fantastic than AMAZING! It was phenomenal. If it wasn’t so expensive in Switzerland I would totally live there. You are in a picturesque little town with glacier blue lakes and rivers. (I’ve never seen water like that in my life. It’s so beautiful.) Interlaken, the base town for so many activities, climbing, hiking, camping, mountaineering, ice climbing, canyoneering, river rafting, paragliding, hang gliding, snowboarding, skiing, sailing, swimming, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and pretty much everything but surfing in the ocean.

My whole purpose for going to Interlaken was to get some nature on this trip. And I am glad I did. My first full day I flew with the birds over the two lakes and their city nestled between them. I got to see the green Alps, watch the sail boats, and see the lakes, the rivers, and the town from the air. I went paragliding for my first time and it was amazing. I think I need to get rich and add another hobby to my collection. I was so nervous about running off a hill. But the instant the wind picked up and we took off running all fear went away then the next thing I knew I was flying. It was the best feeling to be airborne! I could totally start paragliding, it’s so relaxing, yet exhilarating at the same time. Plus the view…the view…that’s all I need to say about that.

The next day was saved for hiking in the Alps under the north face of the Eiger. If you don’t know why this was a big deal to me, might I suggest a Google search and some mountaineering books about the Eiger. Its history is pretty crazy, and it’s pretty deadly for being a peak less than 14,000 feet tall. That north wall is massive! It’s a giant peak that soars over the rolling green hills filled with streams, wildflowers, wild animals, and milk cows, to watch over the entire valley. The sheer immensity of this peak is something to behold. It’s difficult to believe it really is less than 14,000 feet tall. Maybe that’s because of the sheer size of the wall itself or maybe it’s the history, the failures, the tears, the successes, the records set on that piece of rock that makes it seem so much bigger. Or maybe it’s a combination of both of these things. Whatever it is it’s a sight to behold. And what else is there in the shadow of the Eiger? A ski resort. Yes… that’s right, a ski resort. I know what I’m doing during the winter someday. Skiing under the Eiger (or snowboarding) sounds like a great idea to me.

I hike for a few hours that day just marveling at the beauty that surrounded me. I love my Utah mountains, but these were completely different and beautiful in their own way. The Rockies and the Alps cannot compare, they are so vastly different it’s crazy. Who knew mountains could be so diverse? (Or their valleys?)

The next day it was off to Amsterdam so that’s “all” I got to do while there. Another trip is in order so I can hike, camp, waterski, river raft, canyoneer, and climb (but not climb the Eiger). Who wants to come with me?

(Pictures from the Golden Pass trains from Interlaken to Geneva)