Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Visiting and staying at the Gasthof Aescher was a corner-stone of planning our Swiss Trip. Today is the day! This morning, Mitchell and Gregory, readied their backpacks, put on their hiking boots and hopped on the train to Wasserauren to reach the trail head for their climb up the Ebenalp to the Gasthof Aescher hostel. If you want more information about Aescher and the food, please check out the June edition of Bon Apetite – it is on the front cover. We joined them later in the afternoon, but took the gondola to the top and then the short hike through a cave to reach the hostel. The grandeur of the view takes your breath away. Pinch me! Are we really here?
On their way to Wasserauen.
Immersing in the beauty of the mountains.
Mitchell finally had a chance to get photographed with a milk cow.
On the path to the top.
Hiking up the Ebenalp.
The top of the climb.
Reaching the top! Success!
Path to Aescher – but don’t look down.
Relaxing at a hut inside the cave.
A most beautiful setting imaginable.
Scary!
The view is incredible.
We discovered that the Ebenalp is a center for paragliding. The winds, height, and abrupt fall off make this an ideal spot. We counted no less than 30 paragliders in the air at any time. It was interesting to see how they launch. Riding the up-currents of updrafts created by the mountains, they were capable of flying for more than an hour and land in Wasserauen. We watched several tandem gliders launch. In this configuration, anyone who wants to try this sport with minimum risk and no training, can be strapped to a ‘pilot’ and enjoy the ride of a lifetime. We speculated from the safety of not having made prior arrangements, that we should have tried it. We didn’t ask about casualties.
The easy way to Ebenalp. We loved it.
Oh Noooooo!
Ready to launch.
We left the guys to their first experience in a mountain hostel. A cubicle with a couple of bunks…..nothing else. A switch from what they had experienced so far. It provided only a community bathroom, and no shower, no TV, no WiFi, but plenty of traditional everyday Swiss food – wursts, ham, rosti, cheese – and a room full of international travelers to share experiences.
Roughing it! No shower, WiFi, TV, soft bed and pillow! Will they survive?
Traditional Swiss food.
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