The grandmother’s snow shoe trail
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008Early morning on a Sunday in December at Schwarzsee, Switzerland. All efforts to make some real tour have failed because of the severe avalanche danger. After having hesitated to get up at all for a grandmother’s morning stroll, I’m finally glad to enjoy the peaceful sunrise in the middle of the snowy landscape. 
The car is packed with all sort of equipment: We have hoped for some more snow on 800 meters above sea level and thus decided to bring the back-country skiing equipment along. Unfortunately, our hopes were dashed and we had to walk off on snow shoes.
Shortly after setting off I already regret not having bagged some more food. Looks like the grandmother’s Sunday moring trail will be a little longer than expected. Will my 0.5 liters of water and my two energy bars be enough?.. Two more hours and still climbing uphill I definitely know the answer. Most grandmothers have turned back some kilometers ago.. I bet they are already eating a big strudel in the restaurant beside the frozen lake down in the valley.
While asking myself whose idea it was to come here a strong and chilly frontal wind picks up - I start cursing and hoping for some summit to appear soon. However, persistence is an advantagous asset of mine and after some more discussions with mini-me we finally arrive on the “hill of pigs” (no joke).
The summit we share with a native of the canton of Fribourg starting some small talk in his dialect, which is characterized by the absence of all “R”’s, amongst other particularities. Puzzle-faced we start walking downhills finally on a slightly different path… which turns out not to be less exhausting than the way up because of deep snow, diminishing endurance and pieces of dense forrest. As also on this trail we happen to be the first ones we have to lay the trace. At this point, not even the pioneer-factor can stop me from bashing myself for not having packed some more food.
After totally 6 hours of walk we are really happy to be back at the car.. Never again I will underestimate a grandmother’s Sunday stroll. Of course, one bubble bath, some Pizza and a beer later, the pain has gone and we already plan for the next weekend adventure.