Where the heck are we now?: The North Face hiking trail

We are in a little town called Murren which is one of the highest inhabited towns in Switzerland at over 5000 ft. It is a car free town with a few vehicles to haul goods. The town started out as a farming town but over the years it has developed into a main tourist town in the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland. The town has a population of 450 and over 2000 hotel beds. It receives visitors all year long but is more popular in the winter season.

There are many little hotels and guest houses.

Today it was warm and sunny so a good day to dry the clothes.

Many people have little garden plots in front of their houses.

Since the weather was so nice we decided to hike the North Face Trail which begins high about the town and winds it way back to Murrren. It was rated as a medium trail so we fiqured we were up for that.

To begin we had to take a cable car further up the mountain, another 1000 feet so we were way up there.

Here is a picture of the cable car with Murren below.

When we got to the top we were blown away with the scenery...to say that it was jaw dropping would be an understatement!

The view when we got to the top of the trail and they got better as we hiked further.

The beginning of the trail was through a forested area as we continued to go up.

Then we came out to this view...

And across the valley we could see the mountain peaks that we would be walking toward. I was pointing as if to say...We aren't hiking up there!

Here was the view as we started down the first valley. The sun was shining and it was a glorious day!

There were many signs so we only went the wrong way once!

There were rivers to cross...

Many gates to climb over, under or through...

Don didn't realize that this one was electrified!

He also didn't realize that he isn't great at yodelling either!

Since this is a cheese producing area we passed many cows with their cow bells ringing. We felt like we were in a movie!

When we came around one bend we came upon this little cafe attached to a farmer's house...

We stopped and had a cheese plate with fresh and one year old cheese made right there on the farm. The aged cheese tasted the best.

Before I left I went to use the washroom and it was in the barn with the cows!

Don ahead of me on one of the uphill parts, he always walks ahead and I am always slowing down to take pictures.

Though at the top of this section there was a bench with a view!!

There were awesome views everywhere we looked...

It is hunting season here as well, they are hunting deer and an animal called a chamois which it something like a mountain goat. We are hoping to find some on a menu before we leave here. We passed a couple of men loading their catch in a small vehicle which they were taking down to one of the restaurants in town.

Don is ahead of me by now. Neither of us minds walking alone and enjoying the solitude of this place. It was so quiet as we walked, only the cow bells and an occasional Hello from one of the other hikers we passed on the way.

Now I can barely see him...

He must be slowing down as I am catching up to him.

Now we are able to see the last part of the hike as we can see Murren down below..

Notice the para glider going by. It is a very popular thing to do here as you start high up in the mountains and glide down to the valley floor. There is a company that offers tandem rides and I am very interested in doing this. However Don is adamantly opposed because he wants to know how he is going to find his way home if I don't survive!

Another few minutes and we are back to town....what wonderful day to spend a day in the Swiss Alps!!!

Time to do laundry and what a better place to wait for it then on a sunny terrace enjoying a beverage and getting a chance to catch up on my Kobo reading.