E-Mails from Europe

Roz Dudden and Jim Mills
June 23 to July 24, 2000

July 14, Saas Fee, continued

Hi, Everyone,

The village of Saas Fee from above by the glacier

We made it to Saas Fee which is at the end of a valley, 1 hour by bus from the train, with 3 glaciers that you can see and many high peaks. It was beautiful and sunny when we arrived yesterday for about 2 hours. We sat on our balcony and admired the view. We finally went out for a hike, it was cold and later rained. The hike was up towards the Gletchergrotte but we turned across in front of the glacier late and across and down some steep switchbacks and back to town on a circular route. and the Mer de Glace glacier in the rain. At the Mer de Glace we toured an ice cave.

Jim by the hiking signs

The Galcier with flower by the trail

On the way down into town, a herd of Brown Swiss and other cows crossed our path. This holds excitement for me since my Dad owned a dairy farm and raised registered Brown Swiss. These were the only Brown Swiss I saw! But they did have bells on.

Brown Swiss being turned out to pasture in the evening

This Brown Swiss came up to have her head scratched!

Our only full day in Sass Fee, Jim went for a long hike in the rain and I went shopping and looked around town. Did I mention it was raining? That evening we had an excellent dinner.

The Hiker

Old houses in the park. The round stones above the pillars are
to keep the mice out of the hay stored in the shed.

Our last day in Saas Fee, Jim did another uphill hike to the mid-way point on a lift. There was some problem in timing and if he didn't make it by noon, he lift was shutting down for lunch and her would have to wait in the cold for 1:15 hours. Anyway I was able to contact him by walkie-talkie at 11:30 and he made it by 11:50. We had lunch on the top in a revolving restaurant but had to by a postcard to see the view since it was socked in! We visited another ice cave that was bigger than the one at Chamonix. Jim says the one at the Jungfrau is bigger still.

Jim and the kids watching for the fenicular

Another glacier ice cave

Ah, well, on to Zermatt, where it is forecast to be sunny, day after tomorrow. We have coordinated through email and are meeting my daughter, Laura, and her friend, Adrienne, and my niece and nephew, Anna and Tim Farnam, my brother Jim's kids, who are also touring for the summer. We will all be there for 5 days and have hiking and downhill skiing planned.

More news from Zermatt,

Roz and Jim

Hiking activity list

July 10:
day: TGV train Paris to Belgarde; train to Chamonix
night: Chamonix
July 11:
day 1: Jim: Up to PlanPraz 2 hours; Jim and Roz: Grand Balcony South, PlanPraz to Le Flegere, 3 hours
night: Chamonix
July 12:
day 2: Jim: Up to Midi Midway point. 3 hours
night: Chamonix
July 13:
day 3: Jim and Roz: In Saas Fee: Circle hike around to the base of the Glacier. 2 hours
night: Saas Fee
July 14:
day 4: Jim: up by the Hannig to Mellig summit. 7 hours
night: Saas Fee
July 15:
day 5: in Saas Fee: Jim: up to midway. 3 hours. Roz: 1 hour hike
night: Zermatt


E-Mails from Europe

Lake District ... London ... Giverny ... Paris ... Chamonix ... Saas Fee ... Next to Zermatt, Part 1 ...
Trift Hotel ... Zermatt, Part 2 ... Amsterdam
Jim's Narrative


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Last updated July 30, 2000 -- © copyright 2000 Rosalind Farnam Dudden