Participating in a nature exploring expedition in the Swiss Alps
Having developed an affection towards mountain tourism in her youth, my mother encouraged me to join a group of nature-loving people who had planned to devote the first week of August to the Swiss Alps. Since I was rather skeptical about mountain tourism and only the opportunity to see Switzerland and taste their chocolate, I was initially looking forward to visiting the big cities, such as Bern and Lucerne, more than the actual mountains. Also, before the trip, despite knowing that no particular skills were required, I thought I was not strong and fit enough for the expedition which promised to be quite demanding physically. To top it all, forgetting appropriate boots at home left me to fight the steep slopes, slippery stones of mountain brooks and winds of waterfalls with only ballet shoes. And yet, contrary to my expectations, I had the most pleasant time.
August 5 | five hours | 16 kilometres
First, after setting our legs in hiking mood by viewing Bern panorama from the city's Rose Garden, we explored the trails at the mountains surrounding Kandersteg. Not to overstrain our muscles, considering that there were no professional athletes among us, we got up to the Mountain Station by a gondola and set for a 16 km trail leading to Oberbergli and back. The trail went up in the mountains along the Oeschinensee lake, the very beginning of it being the steepest and therefore - the most physically challenging. When that slope was conquered, other obstacles appeared, including wet stones, dripping cliffs and loads of mud. While I had fun gathering various plants for a herbarium I was intent on making, because of my unsuitable footwear I had to cross most of the chilly brooks barefoot, which was not particularly pleasant, at least not until I was exhausted. The hiking trail itself, however, provided many beautiful views as well as the opportunity to meet alpine goats, sheep and cows in person. Additionally, much to our joy, freshly baked apple tart and amazingly sweet milkshakes awaited us at the Oberbergli, strengthening us for the physically easier, yet even more slippery way down.
During the expedition, I learned that greeting each other is custom among mountain walkers, whatever the language or nationality. Two German women, equipped much more professionally than I was, even jokingly complimented me on my wannabe climbing boots. Regarding the plants I collected, I placed all of them between the pages of a heavy book as soon as I got back to the hotel. Now, at home, I will have plenty of time to determine their species. After brief inspection, I think that one of the species might be Anthriscus nitida - protected and rare in Latvia, but rather common in the Alps.
Overall, most of my troubles were due to wet weather and weather-inappropriate clothing, but even then I found myself falling in love with mountains, the spectacular landscapes and - most of all - the alpine milk.
During the expedition, I learned that greeting each other is custom among mountain walkers, whatever the language or nationality. Two German women, equipped much more professionally than I was, even jokingly complimented me on my wannabe climbing boots. Regarding the plants I collected, I placed all of them between the pages of a heavy book as soon as I got back to the hotel. Now, at home, I will have plenty of time to determine their species. After brief inspection, I think that one of the species might be Anthriscus nitida - protected and rare in Latvia, but rather common in the Alps.
Overall, most of my troubles were due to wet weather and weather-inappropriate clothing, but even then I found myself falling in love with mountains, the spectacular landscapes and - most of all - the alpine milk.
August 6 | seven hours | 22 kilometres
On the next day we got to Grindelwald, a small village near Interlaken, in order to explore the mountain trails for experienced mountain walkers, marked with white-red-white signs. This time, after getting up to First (2168 m) by a gondola, we split up in pairs, as we decided to take different routes, mine being First-Bachalpsee-Waldspitz-Bort, otherwise known as the Flower Trail (Blumenwanderweg), although the name was justified only in the last part of the descent - from Waldspitz to Bort.
The road from the First station to Bachalpsee was boring compared to the one taken at Kandersteg, for it was broad, smooth and full of tourists. Apart from the farm through which our route lead, I have very vivid memories of the myriad Trifolium pratense plants with notably large flowers, some of which I collected to make a flower headband along the way. The tables turned after reaching the lake and taking the mountain trail that slowly curled down to Waldspitz. Full of dangerous mountain brooks, steep descents and narrow paths, the trail certainly increased the level of my blood epinephrine. Even more so when we were suddenly unable to detect the next white-red-white mark and had to worry about going the right way, especially since only a few other people - a French couple and a small family we met - appeared to be taking the same route.
Then, at Waldspitz, the trail turned into a steep, muddy serpentine down the mountain, and finally the road-sides were covered by flowers, trees and signs that indicated their species. In comparison to the trail to Waldspitz, this seemed a lot easier and not nearly as dangerous, for it actually looked like a road made for walking. Still, even though I did not have to look for marks to know I had not gone astray, some turns were so deeply covered in mud that I had not choice but to climb straight down the slope. And, of course, in one occasion I slipped and got several bruises, but that did not diminish the overall enjoyment of the experience. After all, had it rained, this wonderful route would have been almost impossible to take, so we were very lucky with the weather conditions.
The road from the First station to Bachalpsee was boring compared to the one taken at Kandersteg, for it was broad, smooth and full of tourists. Apart from the farm through which our route lead, I have very vivid memories of the myriad Trifolium pratense plants with notably large flowers, some of which I collected to make a flower headband along the way. The tables turned after reaching the lake and taking the mountain trail that slowly curled down to Waldspitz. Full of dangerous mountain brooks, steep descents and narrow paths, the trail certainly increased the level of my blood epinephrine. Even more so when we were suddenly unable to detect the next white-red-white mark and had to worry about going the right way, especially since only a few other people - a French couple and a small family we met - appeared to be taking the same route.
Then, at Waldspitz, the trail turned into a steep, muddy serpentine down the mountain, and finally the road-sides were covered by flowers, trees and signs that indicated their species. In comparison to the trail to Waldspitz, this seemed a lot easier and not nearly as dangerous, for it actually looked like a road made for walking. Still, even though I did not have to look for marks to know I had not gone astray, some turns were so deeply covered in mud that I had not choice but to climb straight down the slope. And, of course, in one occasion I slipped and got several bruises, but that did not diminish the overall enjoyment of the experience. After all, had it rained, this wonderful route would have been almost impossible to take, so we were very lucky with the weather conditions.
August 7 | four hours | 13 kilometres
On the last day of mountain hiking our destination was Engelberg, Trubsee lake and Mount Titlis. While some, who felt as if they had done enough mountain walking for the time being, decided to go up to Titlis (3239 m) by transport and then travel down the same way, I set myself a goal of getting from Engelberg village (1050 m) to Trubsee (1800 m) by foot. Therefore, with nothing except for a tiny, incomplete map and little experience in following white-red-white signs I, together with my mother, engaged in a four-hour adventure.
The trail first lead up a steep road, wide enough for cars, but it quickly turned into a serpentine through alpine meadows and farms. Several parts of the trail went through forests, obliging us to climb over muddy surfaces, roots and stones. So, troubled by gadflies and other insects, we followed the marks, again worrying about having lost our way when none could be spotted in close distance. My favourite, though comparatively the most dangerous, part of the trail lead up through a rocky glade where voices of marmots could be heard and their caves could be found behind some stones. Most importantly, I even saw and managed to videotape two amazingly cute marmots who had built their cave exactly on the trail! In the end I was very tired but extremely proud about having fulfilled my goal and reached the Trubsee lake.
The trail first lead up a steep road, wide enough for cars, but it quickly turned into a serpentine through alpine meadows and farms. Several parts of the trail went through forests, obliging us to climb over muddy surfaces, roots and stones. So, troubled by gadflies and other insects, we followed the marks, again worrying about having lost our way when none could be spotted in close distance. My favourite, though comparatively the most dangerous, part of the trail lead up through a rocky glade where voices of marmots could be heard and their caves could be found behind some stones. Most importantly, I even saw and managed to videotape two amazingly cute marmots who had built their cave exactly on the trail! In the end I was very tired but extremely proud about having fulfilled my goal and reached the Trubsee lake.
Loads of photos and videos were taken, and here are some of my favourites:
view from the Mountain Station at Kandersteg
morning at Kandersteg
a close-up of an alpine cow
Oeschinensee, the mountain lake of day one
waterfall at Kandersteg
beginning our way down
a typical view at Kandersteg
a moment of respite
Bachalpsee, the mountain lake of day two
flowers on the trail to Waldspitz
mountain crossing at Mount Titlis
the final resting place of my flower headband
Trubsee, the mountain lake of day three
EXCLUSIVE! Marmots on the mountain hiking trail near Trubsee
the most beautiful plants from my alpine herbarium
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My reflections
Since my mother is into mountain hiking, having conquered various summits at the Caucasus Mountains in her youth, she finally persuaded me to give mountain tourism a try. Being rather skeptical, I joined a group of amateurs going on a nature exploring expedition in the Swiss Alps, which - while nothing like alpinism - promised to be physically demanding. The plan was to devote three days to discovering the countryside of Kandersteg, Grindelwald and Engelberg and explore the trails for mountain walkers whilst visiting the respective mountain lakes - Oeschinensee, Bachalpsee and Trubsee.
During the expedition I learned to follow not only the instructions of our supervisor, but also independently - the white-red-white signs that always kept me on the right trail, despite occasional slight worries. The whole experience was very exciting due to the trails being incomparably different at the three regions. For instance, at Kandersteg the route from the Mountain Station to Oberbergli and back was particularly steep only at the very beginning, but later the main problems were caused by the slippery stones of mountain brookes and deep mud. At Grindelwald, taking the Flower Trail I experienced a variety of trails - from a steep ascent on a broad, relatively smooth road full of mountain tourists to more dangerous serpentines over the mountains and down to Bort. However, physically the toughest was the route from Engelberg to Trubsee, and a few times I doubted my strength and almost wanted to turn around. Now I am happy I persisted, ignored the pain in my muscles and fulfilled my goal of reaching Trubsee on foot.
Apart from mountain hiking, which is an exciting activity on its own, thr expedition also gave me the opportunity to explore the alpine flora and fauna. At Kandersteg I collected some of the most common plants, leaving rarer plants such as edelweiss untouched, and made a herbarium. Then, on my way to Bachalpsee I gathered the beautiful and abundant Trifolium pratense plants to make a flower headband that I later gave to an alpine cow.
In the end, as exhausted as I was, I had to admit that mountain tourism topped my wildest expectations. Thus, I intend to keep in touch with the mountain hiking community and hopefully engage in another expedition some time again in the future.
Apart from mountain hiking, which is an exciting activity on its own, thr expedition also gave me the opportunity to explore the alpine flora and fauna. At Kandersteg I collected some of the most common plants, leaving rarer plants such as edelweiss untouched, and made a herbarium. Then, on my way to Bachalpsee I gathered the beautiful and abundant Trifolium pratense plants to make a flower headband that I later gave to an alpine cow.
In the end, as exhausted as I was, I had to admit that mountain tourism topped my wildest expectations. Thus, I intend to keep in touch with the mountain hiking community and hopefully engage in another expedition some time again in the future.
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