Hiking high up in the Swiss Alps

Three new friends and I hiked to the famous "Shark's Fin" near Gimmelwald/Murren, Switzerland. From my travel log on June 7, 2009.

--After breakfast this morning I set out with Ramsey, Matt, and Brandon for Spitzhorn, the top of which looks like a giant sharks fin high up in the Alps. Weve been hiking for hours, the incline is intense. Weve been eating our loaves of (delicious) bread from Esters guest house and have found and drank water from natural sources along the way. As I write this, we are stopped for our meager lunch, and are at an elevation higher than the trees. I suggested we make camp here tonight. There is snow all around us. Its beautiful.
--We just heard an avalanche in the distance, and a bird with lungs of steel amplified 100 times by the surrounding rock faces. Its a bit cold up here.
--Trying to reach the summit is one of the most intense and physically demanding things Ive ever attempted. The incline is more than 45 degrees, absolutely. My tried and true walking stick has saved my butt more than once. Weve tried and failed to head all the way up this steep pitch. I got to a point where I could not go up, and I almost couldnt go back down. Huge rocks were coming out in my hands, and it was nerve-racking.
--We came to a point, lying on our stomachs on a steep incline, where we were grabbing handfuls of shrubbery to pull ourselves up.
--Were close to our goal, but have to backtrack now, as we havent seen Brandon for nearly an hour. With cliffs everywhere, no one should be out here alone. We have to find him soon.
--We found him—he went the wrong way around the mountain for 40 minutes.
--Weve come as far as we can. We would need someone more experienced with us to advise on how to battle the last 100 feet or so. Its somewhat disappointing, but Im very glad we set off on this adventure.
--Sitting on sheer rock face is a very sobering experience. Weve hiked and climbed all day, and as we lay out on this rock jutting out over oblivion, we are talking about people we wish were here to take in this experience with us.
--Whereas hiking up took nearly 7 hours, we made it back in a little more than two. When we got back to a recognizable trail, Brandon ran far ahead of us even when it was very steep. He fell and twisted his ankle, and when we caught up to him we took turns with his arms around us as we walked to take weight off of the sprain.
--Pasta and vegetables, a lively music-filled hostel, and a boot-full of Swiss beer does wonders for a cut and bruised and dirty and tired body. Played some guitar, and sang with Matt and the girls. Piano man never sounded so good. Florence tomorrow!

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Travel & Events

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• Gimmelwald
• Swiss
• Alps
• Murren
• Fan
• vs
• Wild