Mountains are curious things. Two massive plates of earth have crashed powerfully and slowly into one another throughout history, lifting mounds of rock and ice toward the heavens. The Alps are pristine and noteworthy–awe-inspiring in their simplicity and grandeur.
On a recent reporting trip I visited many spots in Graubünden, the rural district of Alpine Switzerland. From Le Prese near Italy, to Zuoz near St. Moritz, the sights were simply beautiful. The air was always cool and fresh. The sky seemed crowded by peaks, much as a city sky is crowded by skyscrapers. Also included in this collection are views from the Austrian Alps.
The Swiss pride themselves as nature lovers, and protectors. I can’t say whether they are those things–but if the Alps were in my backyard, I would cherish their majesty as well.
The Wetterhorn
The Wetterhorn, seen above Reichenbach Falls.
The Wetterhorn
The Wetterhorn at sunrise.
Meiringen
The Alps
The Alps
The view from the cable car
Almost reminds me of Phoenix..without the heat.
Meiringen from near the top of Reichenbach Falls
Near Meiringen
Above Meiringen
Green above Meiringen
Surveying the Earth below
An apple tree set against one of Meiringen’s mountain guardians.
The Aare River
The photo doesn’t do the awe justice, but maybe use it to fuel your imagination.
A great view
The view from a lower-level gondola station.
From a lower-level gondola station.
The triangle shape of this mountain, plopped almost on its own, reminds me of Jaws.
There is always time to look at the sky.
One of the many peaks surrounding us at all times.
Not sure where we are headed…
This is about as high as we could go with the gondola. We hiked down the mountain from here.
From a lower-level gondola station.
Another view from our hotel.
Dusk from our room.
Hazy, but beautiful.
Oh to walk among clouds.
Walking along the water’s edge
So close, yet…
The winding path took us down the mountain. It might not look that far, but it is.
The view from our hotel at night.
Moon and street lamp giving this view a subtle glow.
Davos
Davos
Davos
Near Ospizio Bernina.
Near Ospizio Bernina, in the Swiss Alps.
Near the glaciers in the Swiss Alps.
Zuoz, Switzerland
On the Bernina line, through Graubuenden.
Along the Bernina line in the Swiss Alps.
Lago di Poschiavo
Lago di Poschiavo
Le Prese, and the Lago di Poschiavo
The Alps
In the Swiss Alps
Fog forms above snow-covered mountains.
Alps over there..really..
Le Prese
This train station is one of, if not the, highest in Europe.
Sometimes you just want to pluck the clouds out of the sky.