Once a week for the last couple of months, I have spent helping out at Hari Sport Ski Rental shop up on Engtsligen Alp, Switzerland. Its quite a place. But words can’t really bend around it, so instead, here are some pics WITH some words!
Engtsligen Alp is supposed to be the highest plateau of its size in Europe… a large, flat area, 2km’s above sea level which then reaches up a further kilometre to the peaks above. Breathe taking.
In the summer this is a grassy plain where cattle graze
The Southern corner of the plateau is littered with large boulders
Now partially buried in snow, they are said to be the last remaining physical evidence of the Celtic settlement of Switzerland in the 1st century BC
I don’t think I found the Celtic Standing stones, but these boulders and their setting are amazing in any event
This is the view from the boulders back towards the gondola that takes you back down to round level
Its incredibly peaceful nest to these big rocks in the snow, as if you can watch the lichen growing.
The weather changes fast and often
You can’t see it in the picture, but that red windmill is really motoring… the wind picking up
These changes result in quite spectacular shifts in light and visibility
This place is the same altitude as Johannesburg, give or take a few metres… something you have to remind yourself of when looking at this vista
Inside the rental shop….
The rental flag dances in the wind
There is also a natural ice skating rink in this igloo
Complete with Disco lights, ‘Ring of Fire’ was playing when I took this
The view from the Gondola Station below, looking up towards Engtsligen Alp