May 25 2006
Hike
We make a big hike in the only National Park of Switzerland, near Zernez. There is still a lot of snow so we have to cross a couple of steep snow fields. That is treacherous terrain, because if you slip you slide over the snow and can gain so much speed that when the snow stops you will crash onto the rocks. Yes, being a climber makes one think all these things. So I give Alison instructions on how to act and nothing happens. We see a lot of mountain crows, a chamois (very distant) and also a few mountain marmots, just out of hibernation. We encounter also a snow hare, which was full of spots because it had just changed its coat from winter colours (white) to summer (brown and grey).
Thursday, 15 June, 2006 @ 07:46
Steep snow fields in the spring are especially treacherous because the path is narrow mud. It’s not very solid and offers little purchase.
What amazed me was that we encountered the following groups of people who had successfully navigated the narrow mud path curving across a steep snow field – the one that Mark and I needed special tools and techniques to manage:
1) old people whose balance was so unsteady that they had to hold hands walking along a wide, solid trail.
2) a gang of teenagers dressed for sexual attractiveness in the schoolyard.
3) a family including a seven-year old.
The Swiss clearly know mountains.