A foggy Hike

Greetings from four tired hikers,

We hiked a high trail today rated as having the second best views in Switzerland.  After taking several connecting cable cars, we started across a ridge line hike. 

On our left was a very green pasture/skiing bowl populated with several hundred cows- each with a cow bell.  It was a wonderful orchestra of bell ringers!  On our right was a sheer drop off several thousand feet into a stunning valley- at least that's what we are told.  Fog shrouded that valley all day, and in fact came over the ridge line and into the valley to our left. 
 
But that made us appreciate the thousands of wild flowers blooming along the narrow trail.  After an hour's walk, we came down off the ridge line and onto a section of trail cut into the side of the mountain.  It is so steep and narrow that we were photographing flowers at eye level just by turning to the left.




 

We eventually hiked down to another ski bowl where we had lunch at a church celebrating 100 years.  Coming down, we enjoyed the views of farmers fields from a long cable car.  We've learned that most farmers are bi-vocational and may only have 10 cows.  A cooperative arrangement allows them to graze their cattle on "Alpen Ground" and produce cheese each day.

Walking through the high ground today, we were able to get up close and personal with some of Switzerland's finest.

There was a dinner for Untours people this evening in a classy traditional Swiss restaurant looking out at sunset on the Wetterhorn.  A special cheese dinner was followed by a couple who played the accordian and alpen horn.  They were talented folk music performers- a fun evening.

We are headed to bed to rest up for our next adventure tomorrow.