Saas Fee day three

Words cannot really do justice to these wonderful days in Saas Fee with such incredible weather and breathtaking panoramas! 

Our accommodation price included all the local transport with the exception of the Metro Alpin, an amazing train which travels steeply up inside the mountain. Unlike the Jungfrau railway, you have no stops for views but you are well aware that you are travelling from 3000 m to 3500 metres as it suddenly gets very cold!

Before the Metro Alpin, we had a brief stop at the middle station, Felskinn( funny name!) with its wonderful views over the massive Feegletscher ( fairy glacier). They must have big fairies here, cos this was enormous. How incredible this glacier and the many others must have been 20 years ago, probably reaching the edge of the town. 

Looking up towards the peaks we could already see the Feekopf, ( fairy head) at just under 4000 metres, the rock standing out on the skyline on the left in the picture below. To the right Alphuebel, 4206 metres. Interestingly these flatter mountains never seem so tall to me!

Perfection plus! Thanks to Irene's mountain walking sticks, I coped really well when we got out at the stop for Alallin, 3500 metres. Wow, the air seemed so thin and it took a while to adjust

It was some of the most majestic landscape I have ever seen. The timing was great too because in a week the summer ski season opens there and there will be masses of people there.  As it was, I had the walk towards the beautiful rounded snow- clad  peak of Allalinhorn, 4027 m, all to myself. I hasten to add that I dis not make it to the top, Instopped at the corner, though there were lots of climbers on the slopes today!

To my right, the ski slope staff were very busy preparing what looked like an incredible snow park area, with massive jumps as well as downhill 

slopes.it was fascinating watching them digging out the snow and transferring it to the slopes. It was far too warm to make snow!

Here a panorame of this truly spectacular area. 

Looking down the slopes the Fee glacier contines towards Saas Fee

So many 4000 ers and right beside us the beautiful Allalin. I really love that name.  The clouds which moved in just after lunch added to the beauty of this extraordinary landscape.

On the other side of the top station was another fantastic glacier, the Hohlaubglacier. This side of the mountain does not seem to be skied on, presumably due to avalanche danger. There were some pretty massive slabs of snow with large cracks in them, which looked as if they could break off at any time, especially in such heat - I have no idea of the actual temperature, but in general we were fine with t- shirts!

Under the viewing terrace and the revolving restaurant, where we enjoyed a simple lunch with stunning outlook, was the Ice Palace, some 50 steps down into the depths of the Feegletscher. Quite remarkable and exceptionally beautiful. Personally I preferred the more natural tunnels of ice

With their gorgeous feathery ceilings of ice crystals. They were so lovely

They had loads of very clever ice carvings, but my favourite was certainly this one of the two penguins.

Out above ground again to view this ever changing landscape, with its increasing cloud, but never decreasing beauty. It is just magnificent in whatever direction you look

We were quite reluctant to head downwards, but all good things must come to an end. Nik and Irene stayed for a shortish walk at Felskinn. You can see them, the two lonely figures to the right amongst this gigantic backdrop of glacial snow.

I went on down, not before I had spent some time admiring the unbelievably colourful rockfaces beside the cable car ( which was packed, even out of season ).

What a wonderful view down to the fabulous town of Saas Fee.

My day was not over yet. I decided to go to Gletschergrotto. It sounded so nice,glacier grotto. It was unbelievably hot as I set off up a fairly steep hill with no shade. I was thankful to the head down again through the larch forests towards the river, where at one point it provided an idyllic swimming spot with little ponds on each side of the otherwise flooded river. I felt like stripping off, like the kids, but didn't want to scare them!

The views along the river were marvelous, but sadly I never made it to the grotto as the going got tougher and I was alone

Never mind, it was a great walk and I was very thankful to arrive back to Saas fee safely and to enjoy the walk to town through the flower filled meadows. Very pretty.

It is  late now and the moon has risen. It is brilliant to be able to sit on our balcony in the evening, savouring the spectacular scenery, enjoying the peace and tranquility of this car- free area, with just the sound of the huge waterfalls in the distance. More idyllic you cannot really find.