Snow in Heiligkreuz
Switzerland likes to exaggerate a little with its beauty. Green slopes, cows with bells, wooden houses that look as if ten families live there, and mountains silhouetted dramatically against the sky. Above Heiligkreuz, it was no different. Heiligkreuz was located near Schüpfheim, where we were staying. The sun was still shining, and we were eager to go hiking. Upon arrival, we started on a wooden boardwalk through a “primeval forest,” as stated on the many hiking signs. The hike turned out to be short, and real mountains lay at the top. The path (605) started off pleasantly. Fresh air, expansive views, and that blissful feeling that your legs want to go higher and higher. The paths leading up past alpine meadows and scattered farms and cows—yes, with bells. Initially, the weather cooperated nicely. A watery sun, soft clouds, excellent hiking conditions. Slowly, the sky changed. The snow came at first hesitantly, then decisively. After that, hail. Which, fortunately, bounces off your too-thin coat. Small, hard projectiles, painful on an elderly head. Fortunately, the view remained. Clouds drifted through the valleys, mountain walls appeared and disappeared again, patches of landscape suddenly lit up as if someone had turned on a spotlight. Bad weather actually often makes mountains more beautiful. Less postcard-like, more drama. High above the village, to our relief, lay the restaurant First, and it was even open. A wooden lifebuoy, warmth, and coffee. We were the only guests. The coffee was good. Less so was the fact that there was a parking lot outside. We could have driven. We decided to slide back down anyway. When the weather calmed down, Heiligkreuz still lay beneath us. Quiet among the hills again, as if nothing at all had happened. We had to return to Lucerne as well. For lunch and a final farewell. Everyone was there.Switzerland likes to exaggerate a little with its beauty. Green slopes, cows with bells, wooden houses that look as if ten families live there, and mountains silhouetted dramatically against the sky. Above Heiligkreuz, it was no different. Heiligkreuz was located near Schüpfheim, where we were staying. The sun was still shining, and we were eager to go hiking. Upon arrival, we started on a wooden boardwalk through a “primeval forest,” as stated on the many hiking signs. The hike turned out to be short, and real mountains lay at the top. The path (605) started off pleasantly. Fresh air, expansive views, and that blissful feeling that your legs want to go higher and higher. The paths leading up past alpine meadows and scattered farms and cows—yes, with bells. Initially, the weather cooperated nicely. A watery sun, soft clouds, excellent hiking conditions. Slowly, the sky changed. The snow came at first hesitantly, then decisively. After that, hail. Which, fortunately, bounces off your too-thin coat. Small, hard projectiles, painful on an elderly head. Fortunately, the view remained. Clouds drifted through the valleys, mountain walls appeared and disappeared again, patches of landscape suddenly lit up as if someone had turned on a spotlight. Bad weather actually often makes mountains more beautiful. Less postcard-like, more drama. High above the village, to our relief, lay the restaurant First, and it was even open. A wooden lifebuoy, warmth, and coffee. We were the only guests. The coffee was good. Less so was the fact that there was a parking lot outside. We could have driven. We decided to slide back down anyway. When the weather calmed down, Heiligkreuz still lay beneath us. Quiet among the hills again, as if nothing at all had happened. We had to return to Lucerne as well. For lunch and a final farewell. Everyone was there.
Snow in Heiligkreuz
Zwitserland overdrijft graag een beetje met schoonheid. Groene hellingen, koeien met bellen, houten huizen die eruitzien alsof er wel tien gezinnen wonen en bergen die zich dramatisch tegen de hemel aftekenen. Boven Heiligkreuz was dat niet anders. Heiligkreuz lag vlakbij Schüpfheim waar we verbleven. Er was nog zon en bij ons de lust tot wandelen. Er aangekomen begonnen we met een houten wandelpad door een “oerbos”, zo stond het op de vele wandelbordjes. De wandeling bleek kort en boven lagen echte bergen. Het pad (605) begon vriendelijk. Frisse lucht, ruime uitzichten en dat weldadige gevoel dat je benen hoger en hoger willen. De paden omhoog langs alpenweiden en verspreide boerderijen en koeien, juist, met bellen. Het weer deed aanvankelijk keurig mee. Een waterig zonnetje, zachte wolken, prima wandelomstandigheden. Langzaam veranderde de lucht. De sneeuw kwam eerst aarzelend, vervolgens overtuigend. Daarna hagel. Die gelukkig van je te dunne jas afketst. Kleine harde projectielen, pijnlijk op een bejaard hoofd. Het uitzicht bleef gelukkig. Wolken trokken door de dalen, bergwanden verschenen en verdwenen weer, stukken landschap lichtten plots op alsof iemand een spot aanzette. Juist slecht weer maakt bergen vaak mooier. Minder ansichtkaart, meer drama. Hoog boven het dorp lag tot onze opluchting restaurant First en het was zelfs open. Een reddingsboei van hout, warmte en koffie. Wij waren de enige gasten. De koffie goed. Wat minder was dat er buiten een parkeerterrein lag. We hadden kunnen rijden. Toch maar weer naar beneden gaan glijden. Toen het weer bedaarde, lag onder ons nog steeds Heiligkreuz. Weer rustig tussen de heuvels, alsof er helemaal niets gebeurd was. We moesten ook weer terug naar Luzern. Voor een lunch en een laatste afscheid. Iedereen was er.
