Friday, June 12, 2009
Brian in Murren
Murren was a beautiful town with lots of hotels, gasthauses, skiers, etc. Brian with the Eiger in the background. Classic shot.
Skiers Unloading
We had to wait for all these skiers going UP before we could get on the gondola to go DOWN.
Murren
Finally we had to head down from the Schilthorn, as we had a fairly long drive ahead of us over to Garmisch, Germany. We rode the gondola (they're usually empty coming down) through Birg and into Murren. This is a view of Murren, built on the edge of the cliff overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Gondola
A good view of the Schilthornbahn arriving from Birg. These were always the best lifts to take while you were skiing. Although you didn't sit, it was often nice to be protected from the wind and cold, at least for a few minutes. 
Schilthorn
If you look closely you can see our reflection in the window. This was built in the late 1960's and was made famous in the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." from 1969.
Endless Alps
Of course at almost 10,000 feet we could see for miles in all directions. Many of these dioramas were frozen over so we had no idea what we were looking at much of the time. This was facing somewhat west towards French Alps in the distance.
Birg
Birg is the 2/3 way point between Murren and the Schilthorn on the gondola line. How anyone built these places is beyond me. Quality Swiss engineering.
Brian with Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau
It was COLD and WINDY up at the Schilthorn. Elevation I believe is around 9800 feet. Obviously, though, the views and clear skies made enduring the cold and wind worthwhile. The three main mountains you see in the center and right are (from l to r) the Eiger, the Monch, and the Jungfrau. The monk is protecting the young lady from the ogre, literal translation.
Early Morning Mountains
We were hoping for some clearer weather the next day, and we couldn't have gotten a more perfect day. Not a cloud in the sky. We got up early to take the lifts up to the Schilthorn....first a lift from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp (no pics cause it was still fairly lowlight). Then a train from Grutschalp to the resort town of Murren, where we started getting more light. Then another lift from the Murren station up to Schilthorn via Birg. This was the first good view we got as we left the Murren station on the gondola lift. Amazing.
Wengen at Dusk
VOL 3/5: We hiked up a few hundred yards up above Wengen to see if we could get a better view, but it started getting dark quickly, as it does in the Alps. Some great views of Wengen, would have been better if I had brought my tripod.
Wengen Kirche at Sunset
Europe has beautiful churches, and this was a great shot of the one in Wengen with just a bit of clearing as the sun went down. This is looking roughly west, obviously, and it was a sign of better weather to come tomorrow.
Brian the Hut
We didn't ever figure out what this little hut was for, but it's a good shot of Brian. Very Swiss, no? Perhaps it's a large doghouse for the St. Bernards.
Lauterbrunnen Valley from Wengen
Still clouds, but a good view from up above of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, with the Edelweiss hotel in the foreground.
Alpenrose
One of many very nice hotels in Wengen, this one named the Alpenrose, as Brian is so discreetly pointing out.
Wengen
Later that evening, we took the train for a 15 minute climb up the hillside to the town of Wengen. A larger ski town and some seriously posh resorts up here. This was were I first donned skis. The Sitzmarker Ski Club took a 5 day trip over Christmas of 1984, and I spent 5 crazy days on skis....this was not an easy place to learn to ski, but the atmosphere, views, and snow were well worth the trouble. After 5 days I was doing pretty dang good.
Brian and Lauterbrunnen
After our sumptious meal, we needed a walk. Brian with the town church in the background.
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