So Saas Fee has been a week of spectacular mountain and glacial scenery, culminating today in a trip to Langflueh, at 2870 metres, nestled in between the two tongues of the mighty Feegletscher ( the fairy glacier of immense proportion!)
To the left the bottom part of the ski field we visited two days ago, and to the right the other section of the Fee Glacier and the beautiful turquoise alpine lake.
What a day of magical moments I had. For a scaredy cat who hates heights, I managed to do so much and enjoy every second. I wish I could have transported all my family and friends there to cherish these moments together, but maybe through my blog everyone can also participate to a certain extent.
This little lake at nearly 3000 metres above sea level, and is like a pure emerald amongst amber and diamonds. The colours of the rock all around are extraordinarily rich, and the contrast breathtaking. Being almost alone there also added to the feeling of being in a totally different world.
Not so many butterflies so high up, but still some colourful, sturdy plants clinging to the rocks. I asked myself how something like this can survive under metres of snow for so many months.
Here a panoramic view from this idyllic spot.
It was one of the most gorgeous places I have ever visited despite being spoilt to some extent by the effect of ski tourism, with so many lifts and damaged slopes,
and of course the knowledge that the glaciers are receding rapidly. However, it was certainly not a day to dwell on negatives. The positives certainly won through.
What magnificent scenery and how thankful I was to spend the day there. I met a number of really lovely couples from Holland, England and France, all similarly blown away by the grandeur of this place.
I cannot believe how thirsty you get at this altitude. I drank litres of water and never needed a loo! This was such a wonderful placevto consume a litre of water
Although I did have to turn away and face the other side of the glacier as I could not bear to watch a group of Japanese perched on the edge of the rocks, high above the glacier, just on the other side of this restaurant!
Mind you, the other side of the glacier was fabulous too with the flatter mountain, Alphuebel at 4206 metres, which was in one of my photos from the day at Allalin.
I struggled to tear myself away from this captivating sight. I fortunately (😀) just missed the cable car down and had time to better look at the glacier with its deep , blue crevasses and amazing patterns of ice and snow. When I arrived in the morning, I could not cope with looking down at the glacier so far below, but by the afternoon my head had got used to the altitude and I had got braver, so it was fifteen minutes of sheer pleasure despite my fear of heights.
It is interesting, but some of the major highlights in recent years have involved glaciers. This day reminded me so much of the unforgettable day in Greenland at Illulisat where I sat for ages marvelling at the largest ice field I had ever seen.
Of course, this one in Saas Fee , the Feegletscher, was tiny in comparison and yet no less impressive.
Time to head down to town beside this enormous glacier, and with marvelous views of the glacier lake I visited two days ago. It was all coming together!
There was still one stop to make. Actually , I had stopped on the way up at Spielboden , where the marmots are said to be relatively unperturbed by us humans. I had bought carrots in the hope of feeding them and I might well have done so if a guy with a dog had not scared away MY marmot, who was only just about ten metres away. Once they see dogs, they just do not reappear! Anyway, I thought I would try again and had my lunch next to a big burrow with carrot at the ready. I think the marmots were having a siesta as I never saw any.
Still, the views from my lunch spot were equally memorable. To my left these incredible sheer rock faces with their wispy waterfalls
And below me the little town of Saas Fee which I will remember very fondly for the five days spent here with my friends Nik and Irene. What a pity they missed Langenflueh, but it will give them a good reason to return!
As I descended I could see groups of people waiting hopefully for a marmot to appear. For one family a perfect ending, as a marmot popped up out of its burrow and posed for photos!
Now, I am writing this in a little restaurant about 50 metres above a narrow gorge.
Needless to say, I opted against climbing these very precarious- looking steps!
It is only a snall chasm, but very dramatic, yet still pretty.
The rushing of the water is also very restful and so I thought it was an idyllic place to write today's blog. The sun has disappeared and there has been a sudden downpour, like two nights ago . I do not think it will last long.
A dream of a day and tonight we will finish off this terrific break with a pizza!
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