Hiking in the Snow

An adventure in the alps

It was a lovely night in the mountains. Listening to the river flowing by our house I could fall asleep within seconds. But it was a cold night. Waking up the next morning with predictions of rain for the entire day we still head out.

The car stays behind. We walk to the bus station where a bus drives us to the village even higher up in the mountains. Then we switch the bus and drive the last half an hour on the tarred road up to the end of the valley. No other cars are allowed to drive here.

We’re the only ones on the bus. The driver isn’t very communicative. Yet he drops us off at the final destination with a recommendation where to go. We didn’t plan where to hike beforehand.

Autumn meets winter

After yesterday’s snowfall, the valley is a white winter wonderland. Not entirely. In between the snow-covered trees, a few colorful areas are sticking out. Falls’ decoration.

Usually, the trees have lost all their leaves when the first snow arrives. But not this year. Most of the trees are still covered in yellow, brown, and orange shining leaves.

Since the temperatures are slowly rising the snow on the trees is melting. It sounds like it’s raining. Which is true. It is raining. But only from the treetops. It’s a mesmerizing sound. Drops of water falling onto a bed of colorful leaves on the forest floor.

Morning mist

The fog is hanging low between the trees at the end of the valley. Slowly but surely we make our way through the forest. The trail is covered in snow and slippery.

Even though most of the peaks are still covered in clouds and morning mist the views we get are breathtaking. These snow-covered trees on rocky mountain slopes are unbelievable beautiful.

Slowly but surely the fog is lifting and offering us more and more breathtaking views. I switch between my GoPro and the DSLR camera to capture the most of it. But none of the pictures come close to it. Close to the real scenery.

Some things can’t be captured in a photograph. The smell. The sounds. And the feeling that goes through your body while embracing this magic moment.

The views

We’re almost above the tree line and close to the mountain cabin. The clouds are disappearing showing some blue sky. Even the sun shines through to us. I can feel the sun rays and the reflection on the snow burning my face.

Behind every turn, I take a break. I take a break to embrace the moment. I want to inhale everything. The whole experience. Take a deep breath. Smile. And keep walking.

Yellow leaves in the snow

An avenue of old maple trees stretches in front of us. Pieces of snow are dropping onto the trail. A bench covered in snow is decorated by a few leaves from the great maple tree.

It’s not a bench to take a rest on. It’s a bench to take a photograph from. Sometimes it’s not about taking a rest. It’s about seeing the places where you can slow down in life. And take that moment to see the beauty around you.

Like the shining yellow leaves lying in the snow. A rare moment. Yet a beautiful capture.

I walk bent over underneath the trees covering my camera from snow falling onto it. I decided against putting my camera back in the backpack. Too many views worth capturing. Too many objects worth turning into arts.

The break

Just in front of the mountain cabin, a pony is digging in the snow looking for some eatable grass. It seems like this pony also got surprised by the change of weather. Or let’s say the change in his scenery.

We take off our backpacks and sit down for a moment. The terrace offers a great view. Lots of snow invites my mom to build a huge snowman which turns into an attraction as soon as other hikers reach the top.

We go inside for a good meal and some warmth. It is indeed very cold up here. And all the wetness surrounding us doesn’t help. Sitting opposite the fireplace we quickly warm up and choose a different route to go back down.

Slushy mud

Hikers who came up this path called the “summer trail” did not recommend us taking it down. They said it is very muddy and slippery. Going up was alright but going down would be tricky.

We decide against their advice and start the hike through the slush. The parts where we walk in the forest the trail is soaked in water and covered in leaves. At some stretches, it felt like walking on a bed of leaves. Soft and relaxing.

The further down we get the muddier the trail becomes. Some trees fell over and we had to climb over or underneath them. The very last part of the trail goes down a field of grass. Or that is at least what I think it normally is. Right now it is just a beautiful mixture of snow and mud.

Water running down underneath the snow creating a soggy mud path. A slip-and-slide parkour begins. Luckily we all have our hiking sticks with us and get down without falling.

Returning home

Eventually, we hit the tarred road again. Walking along the river in the valley we hike towards the mountain village. But before we get there the bus passes us which we force to slow down.

Instead of walking another hour on this boring road, we decide to catch a ride back. Our legs are burning, the shoes are brown and the body is tired. But it was a beautiful day.

As we return to our holiday flat the sun is shining. Sitting on the terrace we let the day fade away. We catch the last sun rays and listen to the roaring sound of the mountain river.

“There is beauty to be found in the changing of the earth’s seasons, and in inner grace in honoring the cycles of life.” — Jack Kornfield