Top of Europe
Trip Start
Unknown
1
79
109
Trip End
Ongoing
Jungfrau Region, Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Thursday, September 23, 2010
When you arrive at Jungfraujoch there are a few thing you can do and I decided to do the Plateau first. The Plateau is an area where you can walk out onto the snow and almost stand on the edge of the mountain. As soon as I took my first step it was great as I had never walked on snow before, I soon realised that walking on snow is one thing, walking on ice is quite another. Most of the surface was ice and as it was a bright sunny day, the ice was melting so made it even more difficult. Despite the fear of falling on your arse or sliding off the mountain it was a great feeling and beautiful sights.
I then walked through the ice palace which allows you to walk through the mountain which is such a surreal feeling. It actually wasn't that cold, the one I went to in Zermatt a couple of years ago was much colder. From there I went to the Sphinx which is platform that gives you great views without the slipping and sliding on the ice. Can’t describe just how beautiful it was up there. I know that the weather plays a huge part, with clear skies you can see out for miles, when it’s overcast you only see white, which was how my experience was in Zermatt. Today, however you couldn’t have wished for a better day. It was still cold, think it was about 1 degree up there but I had good clothes on just wish I’d remembered to bring my gloves as it was only my fingers and face that were a little numb.
From the Sphinx I could see the snow fun park and said yeah that’s where I’ll head next. I could also see what looked like ants in the snow far off in the distance. I assumed this was the glacier walk but thought I probably don’t have the right footwear and would need some gloves so didn’t think it was an option. When I arrived at the snow fun park for some reason I just didn’t feel like it, I think it’s something you do with someone not on your own. The snow in this part was much easier to walk on and I could see people of all types heading up and coming down so I said I’ll just walk a little just so I can say I walked on a glacier. The further I went the better I felt, even though most of it was uphill but it was something I had never experienced before. To be surrounded by snow really is kind of magical. The trail was to end at a hut perched up on the edge of the mountain. I desperately had to use the bathroom and figured there would be one there and I should just keep going to the end. There were times when I was the only one on the trail and it was such a great feeling. I cannot put into words what it feels like to be alone 3500m above sea level and be totally surrounded by snow covered mountains with the sun shining down on you. I’ve had many great experiences over my travels including some only a couple of days ago but those brief moments when I was alone up there was the best thing I have ever experienced.
When I reached the hut there was only maybe 6 other people there. I grabbed a coffee that was not too bad considering this place is so remote all supplies are dropped in by helicopter. There seemed to be a family that lived and ran the restaurant and I think there were some rooms to sleep there. I couldn’t imagine living here it is so isolated, you’d have the best view in the world but still couldn’t do it.
The walk back was even more spectacular but was a lot faster as it was downhill and at times I wasn’t walking down I was surfing down the snow but I never fell over which I was proud of, like I’d done this so many times before.
It was now time to leave and start the 2 hour ride back down. I stopped at Grindlewald on the way down for about to hour to see the sun set over the the mountains. I was never in the right town to see a perfect sunset but over here it wasn't too bad.
