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Traveling to the "Top of Europe"
Location: BlogsHertzler's Europe 2007    
Posted by: rhertzler Sunday, June 24, 2007 7:41 PM
Plenty of sun (although now it is raining) and lots of fun at the Jungfraujoch.

After a pleasant sleep, we awoke to bright crystal blue skies. Nic and I headed to the train station to purchase the passes for travel on all the regional railways and cable cars. This lets us pop on and off at will as we hike around and explore this area of Switzerland. The ticket person was also kind enough to check the weather forecast for us and recommended we go to the Jungfraujoch today because of the beautiful weather. The Jungfraujoch is a station at nearly 4000 meters up in the Alps.

So we headed off on the train - takes nearly 2.5 hours to get there because you go from around 500 meters to 4000 meters. Some places the angle was pretty steep, but the train just kept grinding away.

The boys had a chance for a sled dog ride and even got to 'drive'. Also went sledding and hiked to a restaurant / hut way up behind the Monch. ZThat was a bit difficult, but we all made it. You can really tell the altitude because you get winded quickly - especially walking in soft snow. By the time mid afternoon rolled around, both Ian and Nic were feeling the affects of the altitude and could barely muster the energy to continue.

Now I am sitting outside at a restaurant (no food pictures!) and paid 5 Swiss Franks for internet access - so getting on the net is not nearly as easy here - yet. And, it just started dripping, maybe it will end by morning.

Here is the day in photos:


The view down to Lauterbrunnen from our train trip up.


The crystal blue sky on the way up the mountain.


Nic makes friends with one of the sled dogs. But when they sense it is time to pull the sled, they don't seem so friendly anymore because they bark and pull like mad.


Ian guides the sled and dogs around the corner at the end of his "trip".


This was the view from the window of the restaurant / hut where we had lunch.


And behind Kathy and Nic is the Restaurant perched on the side of the mountain.


Lookin down toward Lauterbrunnen and Wengen from the top. The view was absolutely incredible.


Looking the other way towards Italy is one of the longest glaciers in Europe.


And now on the way back down. Both boys slept most of the way - a tiring day.


This is the front of the house where we are staying. Our apartment is actually in the back.

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Comments (5)  
Re: Traveling to the "Top of Europe"    By Sis on Monday, June 25, 2007 2:00 AM
Breathtaking! If it's that amazing in pictures I can hardly imagine how incredible it must be in person.

Re: Traveling to the "Top of Europe"    By Uncle Dale & Aunt Ida on Monday, June 25, 2007 2:53 PM
Wow! Some great photography! Actually Great photography of great scenery. We're enoying your trip through your photography and blogs. We just returned from two weeks in PEI and Nova Scotia (again). This makes the third trip. We really like it there also. This time we took Ida's dad and her step mother along. We had a great time also.

Have a wonderfu trip and keep up those wonderful photos.

Uncle Dale

Re: Traveling to the "Top of Europe"    By Jared Nisly on Monday, June 25, 2007 9:11 PM
Amazing pictures! I especially loved the ones with the Huskies. Ian, I bet you had a lot of fun running a sled with the sled dogs. Hope you're having a great vacation.

Re: Traveling to the "Top of Europe"    By Mom & Pop on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 1:43 AM
We are on the Coral Princess and enjoying the view of snow capped mountains also. Having great cool weather. Hard to get on the internet here but we are doing fine.

Re: Traveling to the "Top of Europe"    By Cathie Ferry on Thursday, June 28, 2007 2:18 AM
Hi from Valley Road! All is well at your house. Hot and muggy but your lawn is still nice and green...and mowed! Went on my second walk with Joann today...we need you back to make sure we keep our pace up to speed. Sounds like you're having a fun time. Great pictures. Nothing exceptionally new at F&M. Safe travels.

    
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