When I heard of human traffic jams on Everest, the juxtaposition of mundaneness and magnificence struck me, not least because of the lurking presence of death.
I experienced a moderated version of this in the Sexten Dolomites.
We missed the signs on the walk up. It was only when we got to the big red one lying on the rockface after the first short section of La Resgia via ferrata that we realised we would have to abandon. Birds and nature are not to be tampered with and the sign made it clear that we would be doing so if we proceeded. We were not to be there until the 1st July – two days hence – on account of nesting birds. (Perhaps they were on some sort of timed evacuation.) We departed sadly.
On the way down we met two Swiss folk who told us the fine was 300 CHF. They kept going regardless. Perhaps their Swissness was protection enough.
Fortunately, as you know by now, there was plenty to keep us occupied in the intervening time and we returned on the allotted day.
It is a great via ferrata for three reasons: Continue reading
Posted in Switzerland
Tagged mountains, outdoor adventure, Pontresina, Swiss alps, Switzerland, travel, via ferrata, What to do in Bergun
Spot the difference.
Yes, this is the original (perhaps we will say in years to come, ‘and still the best’) The World Is My Cuttlefish cairn. It is at the top of Piz Trovat, introduced in my last post.
In this steadfast and jaunty box: Continue reading
Posted in Switzerland
Tagged fun, mountains, Switzerland, travel, via ferrata, what to do in Switzerland
Normally I climb and hike to the accompaniment of cow bells. Their multi-pitched donging, resonating around mountain valleys, evokes a cellular rather than cerebral response and is at once calming and uplifting. Like an odour, it reaches something primitive in me.
The BB and I had taken the cable car up Piz Trovat, Switzerland.
Posted in Musings, Switzerland
Tagged 30m overhang, cable cars, life, mountains, photography, singing, Switzerland, travel, via ferrata, What to do in Bergun
Poised on a precipice at the Joch Pass, Switzerland, Abbot Porridge is as unphased as ever.
Overcoming fear. There’s a lot written about that. My bookshelf sports “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway”. The trouble with feeling the fear on a via ferrata or rock climb or bungee jump is that it can simply immobilise you if you allow yourself to really experience it.
Posted in Switzerland
Tagged Being bold, fear, feel the fear and do it anyway, holiday, life, living, nature, outdoors, rock climbing, scenery, Switzerland, travel, via ferrata