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ABOVE: Farm near Lauterbrunnen, in the heart
of the Jungfrau hiking region of the Bernese Oberland.
What to take
There's no need to bring a special wardrobe unless you plan to spend most of your time
above the treeline, climbing mountains or hiking between Swiss Alpine Club huts.
The main things you'll need are:
Sturdy footwear
Lightweight hiking boots or Vibram-soled walking shoes are adequate for short hikes on the
paths you're likely to encounter around towns and resorts. Ankle-height boots are
desirable, since they provide foot support and won't fill up with gravel on unpaved
trails. If you're venturing into rougher terrain, you'll need a sturdy pair of hiking
boots.
(But don't bring heavy, stiff-soled mountaineering boots unless you're planning to
scramble up an Alp. There's an old saying that a pound on the feet is like five pounds on
the back--and in any case, rigid half-inch soles can make it difficult to get a footing on
gravel or uneven terrain.)
TIP: Make sure your boots are broken in before you leave home. Pack some
"artificial skin" and moleskin in case you get blisters. And when you're hiking,
be aware that downhill walking can be very hard on the knees. (My husband once spent two
days limping in pain after a morning's descent from Grosse Scheidegg to Meiringen on paved
trails and roads.)
Good socks
Wool, polypropylene, and special hiking blends are preferable to cotton, which tends to
wrinkle and hold moisture. (Tip: Buy hiking socks and wear them when you're fitted for
boots.)
A sweater
Temperatures can drop quickly in the mountains, and a drizzly day can quickly chill you to
the bone.
Rainwear
Gore-Tex or similar clothing is a wise investment if you plan to do extensive hiking. For
occasional hiking, you can get by with a water-resistant parka or jacket. (A folding
umbrella is also worth bringing if you're hiking on lowland paths.)
A hat
Think "water-resistant." An Irish tweed hat is more appropriate than a straw
boater or cotton baseball cap.
A knapsack
A lightweight daypack is ideal for most hiking. You can send heavier luggage ahead to the
next village by train for a modest fee.
A hiking guide.
A regular guidebook such as the Michelin Green Guide is adequate for local
sightseeing, but an English-language walking guide is worth buying if hiking ranks high on
your agenda. Look for these titles in your local bookstore:
Switzerland's
Mountain Inns:
A Walking Vacation in a World Apart
Philip and Marcia R. Lieberman (Countryman Press)
Walking
Easy in the Swiss and Austrian Alps
Chet and Carolee Lipton (Gateway)
Walking
in Switzerland
Clem Lindenmayer (Lonely Planet)
Walking
Switzerland - The Swiss Way:
From Vacation Apartments, Hotels, Mountain Inns, and Huts
Philip and Marcia R. Lieberman (Mountaineers Books)
Continued on page 4
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Durant
& Cheryl Imboden's