Hey GoPro, Take a picture
Andy was happy to wake us up at 7am since he was awake for the last 4 hours. It was haaard getting my ass up due to the jet lag. But, we had coffee to drink, breakfast to eat, and a mountain to climb before the storm (afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast).
Many coffees deep and a breakfast consisting of cold cuts and cheese, Muesli, yogurt, we carb loaded for day. Our host had the techno cranked for breakfast, a bit of a stark contrast with the Swiss Alps in the background and even harder to deal with at this hour. I think it was her strategy to get us out the door so she could go back to bed.
We headed out at 9:30 and started up the mountain. Up up .... Real up. It was fucking hard, the weather was perfect. Cool but some intermittent sun. The green grass was so bright and lush. It was like a more vertical Scotland (Description compliments of Travis). All we did was hike up, at one point it was ~40° angle. So steep in fact that Christine lost her shoe at one point. We drilled it though. We stopped at Schilthornhütte for a celebratory mid hike beer. A small hut on a gnarly mountain overlooking the valley.
Back on the trail. All was good until we hit the ridge.... The beginning part was fine. Just some stairs in the rock, some hand grabs here and there. Then, we got to the top ridge. Background: I developed a slight fear of high heights about 5-10 years ago. I looked down at my feet, never at the exposure on both sides of the ridge. On the left was a straight drop over 2000" to the valley floor, on the right a sheer scree-field to the base of the 1000" we just climbed. There was a rope which provided some safety, but not enough to make me feel ok. I had to scoot on my butt for a bit, but fuck it I made it, and didn’t cry. Finally, we made it to the top of Schilthorn, apparently also the scene in a James Bond movie and ... It was a shit show. Why have a sign that says no high heels on the last section of rock scramble? Because there were chicks with freaking stilettos up there compliments of the gondola. We decided to skip the fancy restaurant, the tourist scene, and gift shop to get real food in Mürren. We didn’t have to pay for the gondola down! I guess they don’t get too many hikers so free ride down!
We ate some yummy onion soup and cheese plate for lunch, and wine of course ... and finally the afternoon rain. We just made it. The boys volunteered to hike back to get the rest of the gear we left behind at the Pension Sonnenberg, a solid 30 min/600 ft vertical from town. Christine and I were sent for schnapps and wine (and always cheese). Another gondola down from Mürren and we we’re back in Lauterbrunnen.
We met some amazing ladies in their 70’s at the last hut (I hope to be like them in 20 years) who go on major hiking expositions and leave their men behind. They recommended we go over to Kliene Scheidigg for the night on the other side of the valley. We took the cog train up for 40 minutes and arrived just under the Eiger, Münch and JungFrau mountains. The views were amazing. Same clothes and bags from yesterday. The vertical is so steep, hard to see this anywhere else in the world.
Many coffees deep and a breakfast consisting of cold cuts and cheese, Muesli, yogurt, we carb loaded for day. Our host had the techno cranked for breakfast, a bit of a stark contrast with the Swiss Alps in the background and even harder to deal with at this hour. I think it was her strategy to get us out the door so she could go back to bed.
We headed out at 9:30 and started up the mountain. Up up .... Real up. It was fucking hard, the weather was perfect. Cool but some intermittent sun. The green grass was so bright and lush. It was like a more vertical Scotland (Description compliments of Travis). All we did was hike up, at one point it was ~40° angle. So steep in fact that Christine lost her shoe at one point. We drilled it though. We stopped at Schilthornhütte for a celebratory mid hike beer. A small hut on a gnarly mountain overlooking the valley.
Back on the trail. All was good until we hit the ridge.... The beginning part was fine. Just some stairs in the rock, some hand grabs here and there. Then, we got to the top ridge. Background: I developed a slight fear of high heights about 5-10 years ago. I looked down at my feet, never at the exposure on both sides of the ridge. On the left was a straight drop over 2000" to the valley floor, on the right a sheer scree-field to the base of the 1000" we just climbed. There was a rope which provided some safety, but not enough to make me feel ok. I had to scoot on my butt for a bit, but fuck it I made it, and didn’t cry. Finally, we made it to the top of Schilthorn, apparently also the scene in a James Bond movie and ... It was a shit show. Why have a sign that says no high heels on the last section of rock scramble? Because there were chicks with freaking stilettos up there compliments of the gondola. We decided to skip the fancy restaurant, the tourist scene, and gift shop to get real food in Mürren. We didn’t have to pay for the gondola down! I guess they don’t get too many hikers so free ride down! 
We ate some yummy onion soup and cheese plate for lunch, and wine of course ... and finally the afternoon rain. We just made it. The boys volunteered to hike back to get the rest of the gear we left behind at the Pension Sonnenberg, a solid 30 min/600 ft vertical from town. Christine and I were sent for schnapps and wine (and always cheese). Another gondola down from Mürren and we we’re back in Lauterbrunnen. We met some amazing ladies in their 70’s at the last hut (I hope to be like them in 20 years) who go on major hiking expositions and leave their men behind. They recommended we go over to Kliene Scheidigg for the night on the other side of the valley. We took the cog train up for 40 minutes and arrived just under the Eiger, Münch and JungFrau mountains. The views were amazing. Same clothes and bags from yesterday. The vertical is so steep, hard to see this anywhere else in the world.
We got some bunks at Grindlewaldblick.
A very clean pension on the ridge of Kliene Sheidegg ... more fondue, bratwurst , wine, & schnapps. We sat outside so we could drink the wine we brought with us (no schnapps due to an unfortunate transportation incident). We invited a extremely, tall solo German, Jorge, to sit and chat and drink wine with us. We ended up sharing the dorm room with only Jorge (20 bed dorm). Today was truly amazing ... Good trekking, good food, good drink, good friends ... ahhhh, it’s starting to feel like a proper vacation.