I had the good fortune of spending four summers (1947-1949, 1951) in Switzerland as a schoolboy, and on each of these trips I spent about a month with a Swiss family. We often went for hikes, and I enjoyed both the hiking and the views immensely.
Events in my country prevented me from returning to Switzerland for more than two decades. In 1974 I emigrated to the United States, and soon thereafter started spending a couple of weeks with my mother in Geneva every summer until her death in 1996.
Then, in 1987, I had my first hike as an adult in Switzerland, followed by a bit (later a lot more!) of hiking in New Hampshire.
This blog will focus almost exclusively on my Swiss hiking, though I spend eleven months of the year hiking in New Hampshire!
Events in my country prevented me from returning to Switzerland for more than two decades. In 1974 I emigrated to the United States, and soon thereafter started spending a couple of weeks with my mother in Geneva every summer until her death in 1996.
Then, in 1987, I had my first hike as an adult in Switzerland, followed by a bit (later a lot more!) of hiking in New Hampshire.
This blog will focus almost exclusively on my Swiss hiking, though I spend eleven months of the year hiking in New Hampshire!
Final preparations for the trip
Posted 20.07.2008 at 00:53 by RetiredInNH
As always, lots of things to do before a six week trip abroad! I am leaving Boston tomorrow (Sunday, 20th of July) mid-morning.
My main big task that had to be completed before leaving was writing an article of about 5,000 words. I basically wrote it in three days (last Monday to Wednesday).
That left me with nothing pressing on Thursday, so I had a last New Hampshire hike, up Mount Adams. The hike was about 16 kilometers long, with 1,350 meters of elevation gain. I was tired at the end, but not too unhappy; the distance and elevation gain are roughly what I plan to do on my more challenging hikes. Walking in the Lavaux on Tuesday should be no problem
Friday I did the final administrative tasks, such as getting some money from the bank and having my mail held. On Saturday I drove to Boston for the night.
I have been checking the weather on a daily basis, and so far every day has promised one more day of good weather! MeteoSwiss predicts (as of tonight) out to Thursday,with daily good weather. Le Nouvelliste has predictions out to Friday, with fine weather that day also.
This has me totally psyched! I am hoping to go to the Cabane des Dix on Thursday, and to go over the Col des Ignes, the least used of the passes between the Val des Dix and the Val d'Hérens, on Friday, spending that night at the Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges. The pass is above 3,000 meters, so good weather is essential. I also need to know how much snow remains from last weekend's storm, will call the keepers of both huts soon after my arrival in Switzerland.
This is probably my last entry before reaching Geneva!!
My main big task that had to be completed before leaving was writing an article of about 5,000 words. I basically wrote it in three days (last Monday to Wednesday).
That left me with nothing pressing on Thursday, so I had a last New Hampshire hike, up Mount Adams. The hike was about 16 kilometers long, with 1,350 meters of elevation gain. I was tired at the end, but not too unhappy; the distance and elevation gain are roughly what I plan to do on my more challenging hikes. Walking in the Lavaux on Tuesday should be no problem
Friday I did the final administrative tasks, such as getting some money from the bank and having my mail held. On Saturday I drove to Boston for the night.
I have been checking the weather on a daily basis, and so far every day has promised one more day of good weather! MeteoSwiss predicts (as of tonight) out to Thursday,with daily good weather. Le Nouvelliste has predictions out to Friday, with fine weather that day also.
This has me totally psyched! I am hoping to go to the Cabane des Dix on Thursday, and to go over the Col des Ignes, the least used of the passes between the Val des Dix and the Val d'Hérens, on Friday, spending that night at the Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges. The pass is above 3,000 meters, so good weather is essential. I also need to know how much snow remains from last weekend's storm, will call the keepers of both huts soon after my arrival in Switzerland.
This is probably my last entry before reaching Geneva!!
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Recent Blog Entries by RetiredInNH
- Zermatt (14.08.2008)
- Gemmi Pass and other things (06.08.2008)
- My first Swiss 3,000 meter peak (01.08.2008)
- A real combat de reines at Lac Bleu (30.07.2008)
- Musings on the trail ... (30.07.2008)
