Paradise above the clouds PART TWO....

Part Two of my Swiss travels.......

DAY FIVE - Tuesday 20th January 2015
 Today we walked along the panoramic path to Riederalp again. We were quite late leaving the chalet so we had lunch when we got there. We found a lovely hotel called 'Edelweiss' it was beautifully decorated with hanging wooden Edelweiss. It was sat at the bottom of the nursery slope so we sat watching people progressing with their skiing or snowboarding.

For lunch I had a Tuna Mayo sandwich (or the Swiss version!) & it was very tasty.

Riederalp is also a pretty little village perched on the edge of the mountain but it didn't have the same feel as Bettmeralp, it seemed a lot more quieter. There appears to be a lot to do in the summer, when the snow melts away a Golf Course is uncovered in the centre of the village & I think you could walk for miles.

After lunch, we took the cable car down to a very small village called Greich which was about half way down. We didn't realise quite how we were getting off, I expected a proper station. But we literally got off the cable car suspended mid air at a glorified pylon! We stepped off the safety of the cable car onto a platform & into a lift that took us down the pylon to the floor below. I wasn't very happy about this experience! 

The village of Greich was tiny with a few houses & the unmistakable church. We found our walking path marker which was leading us to Betten where we will get the cable car back up to Bettmeralp. Unfortunately the path was a long road but only a couple of cars passed us so it wasn't as bad as we first thought. The road was pretty flat & we had great views of the mountains around us. We made it to Betten & boarded the smaller cable car up to Bettmeralp.

DAY SIX - Wednesday 21st January 2015
Today we planned to hire sledges & ride the sledge run from the Egishorn which is further up the valley from Bettmeralp. We'd read about a specially made 13km sledge run but when we enquired at the Tourist Information Office they informed us that it wasn't open yet as there hadn't been enough snowfall towards the bottom of the run & it would be dangerous :(
She suggested that we hired sledges in the village & because the other run wasn't open we were welcome to use the walking path down to Betten.....so we did! 

 Bye Mum!!

 We hired wooden sledges from the Derby Intersport shop for 8 CHF (£6) each.  

 A lot of the path to be to walked as it was either too flat or the snow was too deep for the sledge to move. The walking time was about 2 hours 30 minutes but we probably did it quicker with the bits when we could use the sledges.

 There was hardly anybody walking on the path so we didn't get in the way unlike past holidays where you share the sledge run with walkers & you're constantly trying to avoid wiping out a walker!

As we neared Betten you could tell the snow was getting thinner.

 We stopped at a little restaurant next to the cable car station where we had lunch & a drink.
Back up the cable car, we took the sledges back. Tom & I had booked a snowboard lesson for the next day so we got fitted out with boards, boots & a helmet.

DAY SEVEN - Thursday 22nd January 2015
We had a leisurely morning in the chalet as our lesson wasn't until 2pm. Mum, Dad & Tm watched the Australian Open & I caught up on my blog & did some reading.
The weather was forecast to be rubbish today but it turned out to be glorious sunshine & blue skies. 
We had soup for lunch & at around 1.45pm we made our way to the meeting point. 

We met our instructor called Chris (I think!) he spoke English very well. We when first arrived there was already a couple of guys starting a ski & snowboard lesson so I was happy as it was flat BUT then panic struck when he said we were going up the slope! After a strenuous walk carrying the board we made it to the top, I was ready for a sit down.

To get us used to the boards, Chris made us walk backwards & forwards with one foot strapped in. Once we'd mastered (!!) then, then we strapped the other foot in to get the sensation of riding properly. This was the point that I had my first bail out! lol
We then continued to gain extra skills like turning left & right.

 I was absolutely shattered after the hour & half lesson.
Having tried both skiing & snowboarding now, I'd say the latter is harder & more energy draining but I was tense from the start. I think once I get more confident & comfortable I will relax & it will feel less hard work. We progressed well, Tom more than me, but nowhere near to being able to go properly down the mountain.....I'd either kill myself or someone else!
When I was sat back in the chalet reflecting on the lesson, I did enjoy it. I found it hard & was getting very frustrated with myself. I think Chris may have learnt a few new English swear words. I will definitely book another lesson if we come again next year.
The lesson was 75 CHF (£52) for both of us & 63 CHF (£44) to hire the board, boots & helmet. 
We hired our things from Derby Sport & we learnt to Snowboard with the Swiss Ski School.


DAY EIGHT - Friday 23rd January 2015
Our last day :(
We woke up to to Bettmeralp being in the clouds. The sun & blue skies kept poking through but then the clouds would cover it up again.

We decided to go all the way down the cable car to Betten Talstation, get the train to Fiesch & then a cable car up to Fiescheralp. 
The cable car literally took us up & through the clouds, it was a wonderful sight. Once out of the clouds we were greeted by clear blue skies & sunshine.


Now we knew the weather was fab, we decided to carry on up to the Eggishorn for lunch.
The views from the top were out of this world. 360 degree views of beautiful mountains. Up here we got a better view of the Glacier, you could even see the Eiger, Monch & Jungfrau. With the binoculars you could even make out the Sphinx on top of the Jungfraujoch.
I find it hard to describe to people who have never been, it's just magical. It really has to be seen to be believed.


























































We had lunch & came back down the cable car to Fiescheralp as the walking paths are closed from the top in the winter.






















 Once down we found the path & headed back to Bettmeralp. It was a lovely walk with constant views of the mountains around us.























After around an hour we came to the restaurant we stopped at on but from the opposite direction. We sat outside in the beating sunshine & had a drink, none of us wanting to leave this beautiful place :(













We dragged ourselves out of the chairs & then climbed back up the hill we conquered the other day & then back down into Bettmeralp.


























As we got nearer to the village the clouds came down & soon the blue sky had disappeared. It was snowing when we arrived back at the chalet.












I really didn't want to leave Bettmeralp, I loved it there.I think we'd picked a good week as the village wasn't massively busy but peak season started the Sunday after we left & there was already huge queues at the bottom cable car station waiting to get up.
I will definitely be trying to visit in the summer to see it looking completely different & if I'm lucky enough, I'll be seeing it again in its winter wonderland glory.

Thank you for taking the time to read all about my recent holiday - I hope you enjoyed it :)
I'll be writing a review on our Bettmeralp accommodation soon so stay tuned for that x