Alpine Training
As Chris and Rebecca, my son and daughter-in-law, live just outside Zurich close to the Swiss Alps, I took the opportunity at the end of last month to visit them and get some high-altitude training in at the same time.
Their house is on the side of a hill, so initially my first walks were uphill from the house and out into the local countryside which stretches for miles and miles. All in all I walked about 40 kilometres (25 miles) in the local area.
After a few days we travelled for a week to the mountain alps of Kandersteg and Leukerbad. Plenty of high altitude walking here! The footpaths are signed and well maintained unless you decide to go off piste. Our first walk was a "gentle" climb up to 1900 metres -- a leisurely stroll, or so I was told. Well it was a bit different to the walking in Oxfordshire!
Then we headed towards Leukerbad, but not before a stop at the International World Scout Centre in Kandersteg. It was very interesting to visit and have a look around. I'm hopeful that the scout group which I’m involved with will get a chance to visit in the future.
After leaving the Scout Centre the fun began. Instead of doing what most do and getting the cable car to the top of the Gemmi Pass, we decided to walk the whole thing. I don’t think I have ever been on as long and as steep an uphill in all my walking days... and this was at altitude with full five-day kit in my rucksack! The total walk over the Gemmi Pass is 13 kilometres and 1500 metres of ascent. We did it in a creditable 4 hours but it's safe to say I was a little tired when we arrived at the hotel. Thankfully we had access to the spa and swimming pool in which to relax.
However my trainer (Chris) wasn’t for letting me relax too much, so the next day off we went again on another 10 kilometre hike with 383 metres of ascent.
After that we were back at Chris and Rebecca's place for a week and more local hiking, then off to Arosa in the Bernese Oberland. This involved two days more hiking in the stunning alpine scenery at around 2000 metres above sea level.
All in all the trip was great preparation for what’s to come on the Camino trail, but of course interspersed with a lovely holiday with family in a country of quite magnificent high alps and lakes.
