maj

Q: It's really helpful to read your article "Big Back Yard: The Lazy Hikers Top Three ". I am going to Switzerland with a friend this winter, want to try the "non-ninny way" in Leukerbaud for the spa. Do you think it's possible to do this in the winter with all the snow on the mountains if the weather is nice enough? I am travelling with annother girl, we both don't have any experience in hiking in snow, but we do mountaineering in Ireland frequently. Thanks so much for your help!

A: The short answer is NO! The longer answer is actually a story:

When I was in Switzerland I always seemed to decide on a hike just a little too early or too late in the season. I tried hiking over the pass to Leukerbaud in mid-June and ended up waist-deep in wet snow cowering under the distant rumble of what had to be small avalanches high in the cloudy peaks above me.

Anyone with any sense would have turned around as soon as they hit snow, but I have this thing about not going back the way I came and (this might have had more to do with it) the tiny town I left from didn't have an ATM machine and I didn't have enough cash for the train!

So I hiked up over the pass and thought I'd have a grueling hike down the other side on steep switch-backs, but, low-and-behold! The funucular was operating! There must be folks who come up in the winter for the view or something, because the guy in the box seemed pretty surprised to see anyone. I rode on down and was happily immersed in a hot spring, funded by a convinient Swiss-bank ATM, thinking of a hot dinner and cold glass of Fendant to follow.

I hope this helps.

PS - dont' try to hike to Grindelwald in April either, but that's another story.