Interlaken in The Clouds

Yo yo another day, another train. Yesterday was an unforgettable one. I started the morning going to 2 different places to try to do laundry, one closed and the other with everything full. They were also charging $27 for one wash and dry that you are doing yourself. Pretty insane. I met a couple from Wisconsin there who are doing 3 months all over Europe. They said Avignon, France was their favourite stop so far, I've added it to the list who wants to go? It turned into a “do the essentials in the sink” laundry run which happens here. A failed 2 attempts at laundry is unforgettable????

The rain stopped around noon and after grabbing something to eat I decided to do the famous Harder Kulm hike. They say to make sure you have plenty of time to get it done because it’s steep and of course I didn’t do that. I had to get back for paragliding at 345. It was about 50 degrees with the sun peeking out for the majority of the 1 and 15 minute trek up. Perfect hiking weather. It was switchbacks from bottom to top with maybe three 100 yard stretches of flat ground. I worked up a hell of a sweat, but it made seeing the top that much more fulfilling.

The peak is the tiny light you can see at the top of mountain in this horribly taken photo (circled in red):

The couple midway viewpoints were even incredible and the clouds being in your path for half the hike feels dreamlike.

You can see for miles and miles from the top. The snow-capped peaks in one direction and lush green Alpine villages in the other is unreal. The Harder Kulm restaurant (at the peak) is also one-of-a-kind and was packed out when I got there. You can also take the gondola up which the majority of people did, no proof of sweat for them. The air continues thinning out and you can start seeing your breath as you rise. Highly recommend if you ever get the chance but it is definitely a grind.

I took the gondola back down and fit in a quick shower pre-paragliding. Weather conditions were a whole lot better (sorry debar) and we went right up with the van. There was a 15 year old girl in the group which was impressive and she had zero nerves. It was funny listening to her try to comfort another girl 10 years older than her who was thinking of backing out. We got up to the peak and somehow it was raining up there but there was nothing in town. We waited a bit for the patch to move and just ran off into the sky. I couldn’t believe how smooth of a ride it was. You feel the wind and it’s a little hard to hear but it’s extremely peaceful. The combination of the feeling of flying with the sights you are looking down on in Interlaken is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My guy Dave was born and raised in Interlaken and has been doing flight since he was a young teenager and he said it never gets old. 

I asked him how they keep the endless mountain slopes of lush green perfectly manicured and he said it’s mostly the cows. I laughed out loud at that and need to do some more research to find out how true that is. I know they get a lot of mountaintop precipitation which is why they get the neon green grass, but there has to be more to the upkeep then cows eating their dinner. 

Landing was smooth too and overall just an exhilarating but chill 20 minutes. It’s hard to explain. I was beat after all that activity, ate some dinner and got my self together for the next travel day. I had some packing and reorganisation to do after the adventures of Como and Interlaken. They were completely different places and lifestyles than Barcelona through Florence. Swiss trains continue to be the best. I’ll check back in when I feel like it.