Awe inspiring

Our first full day in the Swiss Alps saw us walk from Wengenwald to Kleine Scheidegg, a distance of 7 kilometres with 900 metres of ascent so a fairly typical Scottish hill day. What wasn't typical though was the giants that loomed over our every step. The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau were our constant companions and the walk took far longer than it should have with regular stops to admire the view. Having now visited the area it was great to put faces to the names that I have read so much about over the years and it left me with nothing but admiration for the early Victorian climbers and their local guides who first climbed these giant mountains in the 1800's with no real awareness of what they would find. The Eiger which is the mountain to the left of the image was first climbed in 1858 and heaven only knows what 'equipment' they would have had with them in those days!

We had wonderful weather today with temperatures in the mid-twenties and the walk had an added bonus with the delights of a beer when you reach the many refuges - I like it here.

The lady in the image - my new wife - looks very different from the one in my photograph from the 15th The future!!!