ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Hiking in Wet and Gloomy Weather
When nothing stops you from going on an adventure
The fog was hanging low in the forest. Some of the treetops disappeared in the mist. It was constantly dropping down on us. I wasn’t sure anymore if it was actually raining or if this was just water falling down from the trees.
But we were happily chatting while putting one foot in front of the other one. The forest soil was wet and slippery. Our steps slow and cautious. It was quiet. No other humans in sight. No other noise to be heard than the thundering sound of the river in the valley.
My friend was about to go on a three-month adventure not only leaving the country but the continent. And I really wanted to see her before she was leaving. But there’s nothing one can do in Germany at the moment. Not legally.
Still being in a strict lockdown our options were slimmed down to meeting outdoors and either walking across the fields or going on a hike. It was too cold for a picnic in the meadows.
The weather forecast wasn’t great. It was so bad that my friend actually wanted to move the meeting. But since she was leaving a few days later, we had no other choice and didn’t let the weather disturb us.
We ventured out anyways. It was raining all morning long. The windscreen wipers of the car were at full speed as we arrived at the selected parking lot.
I stepped out of the car and heard it immediately. The roaring sound of the water. A mountain river that was rushing down the valley carrying all the melted snow water from high up in the alps.
It was loud. But it was a soothing loud. Such a natural sound that was drowning every other sound.
Putting on the rain jackets, we started the hike. The three of us were in a chatty mood. I met my friend years ago in Namibia. She’s also from Germany but we spent the first six months of our friendship in the desert. Going together on countless adventures my husband was with us most of the time. We were part of one group of friends.
So here we were now. Catching up on months and years where our lives were separated from oceans due to us living on different continents. Since she had left Namibia our meetings have been rather short but intense.
We were crossing the river over a bridge when I stopped to take a picture. I didn’t take my camera with me since the predictions were so bad. I have experienced water damage on my camera before and had no desire to go through that anger, frustration, and sadness again.
Therefore I only took my GoPro with me. A camera made for water. And a camera that fits into your pocket and can get pulled out any second. And on days like these, I think it doesn’t matter which camera I take. The view stays gloomy. The landscape dark.
But as I am going through my photographs I must admit I was wrong. Of course, I had to lighten up a lot of the pictures but they aren’t as bad as I thought. Maybe it has to do with the happy memories I have from this day.
Everything in life is relative. It depends on your point of view. If you want to see only the bad things in something or if you always focus on the happy moments. The beauty in life. Well, I guess you know by now on which side I stand.
And as we start ascending on the narrow hiking trail through the forest I am forced to do breaks from time to time to catch a breath. Giving me the chance to look around and enjoy the view.
While breathing in the fresh and clean air I see the lush green on the young trees. It’s shining. Despite all the gloominess around us. The green stands out in this truly grey weather.
Eventually, we reach the tree line and get to walk across a meadow high up in the mountains while the fog is raising next to us. In waves is the haze flying past us. Past us and up along the mountain ridge.
The low-hanging fog steels us the view from the snow-capped mountain peaks of the alps. But now and then we catch a glimpse of the snowy slopes across the valley.
Water is rushing down the gorges creating now and then a waterfall or two.
As we were walking now along the ridge of the mountain my friend points the focus on the idyll of the atmosphere. Despite or because of the light rain and the constantly raising fog we get this quaint picture in front of our eyes.
It’s not all just grey in grey. It’s somehow magical.
Crossing the meadows on top of the mountain we get past these weird-looking mushrooms. They seemed to have missed the season somehow. It’s definitely not mushroom season. But here they are. On top of a mountain growing in springtime.
The mountain ridge we’re walking on is open to our right. On our left, the forest reaches high over a steep slope and up onto the crest. Grasslands keep the other side open. Offering us an open view of the valley. As long as the fog permits the outlook.
In a brief moment when the low-hanging clouds lifted, we got a panoramic view across the region. While I was capturing the scenery with this flower in the foreground a gust of wind was blowing up some raising mist from the forest.
Adding magic to the idyllic atmosphere.
The peak wasn’t really a peak but rather a point on the mountain ridge. A higher crest was following this point but we had gone far enough. Our stomachs were grumbling and it was time to find a place to eat the sandwiches and take a rest.
We walked a little further along the crest only because our friend, who’s climbed this mountain before, said to be remembering a small cottage not far. We gave up eventually on the search for some shelter and stopped on an open spot in between the trees.
A snowfield was lying a few meters from us.
I took off my jacket so we could sit on it in an attempt of trying to avoid sitting in the wet and soggy grass. We got warm from the hike up but our bodies quickly cooled down in this weather while sitting up in the open and not moving.
It was drizzling still but I’m not sure if that was actually rain or just the moisture in the air.
As soon as we had eaten the last bite we quickly got up again and put our jackets back on together with the beanie and gloves.
We headed back down. Cautiously since the ground had turned into a muddy slide and the grass was soaked in rain. Roots and leaves from last fall created many slip hazards.
Every few meters one of us was pulling the arms up in the air in an attempt of avoiding to fall. Balancing out while sliding. In the end, they were all just almost slides and added rather to our entertainment than fear.
My lens wasn’t fogged up. But my view was. I was trying to capture the panoramic view across the valleys when the fog just made it all appear gloomy.
Somehow I always end up taking the last pictures on top of the mountain. Going down doesn’t seem to be my favorite part and therefore I often stop documenting the journey.
I was of course relieved once we reached the gravel road and had left the slippery forest trail behind us. From there on it was no more hiking but rather a gentle walk in the park. A few more meters until we reached the river and crossed it again.
Walking down the mountain in the forest the sound of this river was getting louder and clearer with every step. Up until we stood on top of it and could barely communicate anymore due to the roaring sound of the water.
Everywhere water was flowing. Out of every little ditch and gorge in the forest, a small stream had formed that was feeding this mountain river. Having lived for many years in the desert I now have a different connection to rain and water.
I appreciate every day it rains and listen to the sounds of flowing water. Something I had missed for so long was following me all day long. I am so happy we did not decide to cancel the trip and went anyway. It was such a great day in nature.
I enjoyed every moment of reconnecting with my friend and made once again memories for the photo books and the mind. An adventure I won’t forget so quickly again.
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