Kayaking on Lake Thun

It can't just be hiking and biking all the time. Like today, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) and a humidity similar to a steam room, we suggest a less strenous activity. How about renting a kayak or canoe on Lake Thun. Your ideal starting point could be Neuhaus camp site near Interlaken. Other activities such as wakeboarding, wind surfing, paragliding are also available.

Oh and one other thing. Once on the lake with your kayak, watch out for the larger passenger boats. Their wakes are fun but don't try to demonstrate that you are a superhero.

BBQ mountain bike combo

Here a lazy option for a hot summer day (...or romantic evening). Along the rivers Kander (between Kandersteg-Thun), Simme (between Boltigen-Wimmis) and Aare (between Thun-Bern) you find plenty of cosy spots to grill a few sausages and enjoy a few drinks. Personally, I like the area, where Simme and Kander meet. Not only can you get there following a lovely single trail, but it is also wild area reminding me of Canadian wilderness. Ideal for a BBQ bike lover's combo.

You will always find enough wood to make a decent fire. The rivers are quite rough and cold, so if you fancy swimming, I would recommend Aare or Lake Thun.

Weather forecast or trouble - you choose

The current weather situation here is, ehm... say quite as fragile as an egg thrown against solid rock. And that reminds me of 3 mad hikers I met last year when I took this pic high above Lenk, Simmental (Bernese Oberland). It was 4pm and either time to find a try spot in the nearby shelter or maybe the last chance to head for the village. And guess what. The 3 hikers, a German daddy and his two teenage sons, were heading in the other direction. They intended to climb Wildstrubel, a serious mountain, hard enough in good weather conditions. I tried to stop 'em but they wouldn't listen. And believe me, the night was bad enough. They too, must remember that hike :-)

New outdoor update and new adventures...

...dear readers, it's great to have so many of you on our blog every day. Sorry for not posting any new stuff over the weekend. We were busy "collecting new outdoor material" for our blog :-) Just give us a couple of hours and more recomms will be on. Thanks! In the meantime, have a good day either in front of your computer or a wonderful day out in the wild! Cheers.

Little Scandinavia

Here an impression of the woods of Grünenbergpass above Habkern (close to Interlaken). An area not known to many tourists and yet a hiker's dream within easy reach from Interlaken. Unfortunately, rain and snow had turned the path into a swampy wet-feet trail last Sunday. But hey, that's nature.

Weekend trip with glacier crossing

Here's another idea for a sunny summer weekend (not recommended before mid June or after October, depending on snowfall): from Adelboden, Bernese Oberland, hike to Engstligenalp or take the cablecar as a shortcut. Then, you can enjoy splendid views hiking along Kindbettipass to Lämmerenhütte (SAC alpine hut, reservation recommended). On the way, you gotta cross a small, but impressive glacier. Mind the gaps! The scenery is amazing and diverse, from grasslands through rugged rocky parts to high Alpine stone deserts and year-round ice. The second starts with crossing a dreamy wide mountain valley with little creeks before hitting the popular hiking trail from Gemmi to Kandersteg. As on the first day, you can once again take the fb (fat bastard's) lazy option from Sunnbühl to Kandersteg or walk down along the beautiful waterfall. We loved it and hope you will enjoy it too!

Igloo adventure in the Alps

The Bernese Oberland is the ideal location for an igloo trip. With snowshoes, warm clothes, water- (well, maybe rather snow-)proof shoes, a sleeping bag, food, a saw and some shovels, you're all set. Provided that there's enough snow, building your own igloo is great fun and burns some calories at the same time... Just make sure you choose a location near a forest, or it will take you hours to find enough wood for a fire that keeps you warm for the evening.

2-day hike Fluhsee near Lenk

Ever dreamt of spending the night in a cozy hut next to a remote (but freezing cold) wee mountain lake? Then Fluhsee is the hike you should be up to soon. From Lenk (last village of Simmental), walk to Simmenfälle and then up to Siebenbrünnen, where you can stop at the friendly little farmhouse-style restaurant for a lovely soup before hitting the wild. Oh yes, and don't forget to put down your names on the slate board in front. That's the only way of making a "reservation" for Fluhseehütte - well, if this can be called "reservation" at all. From Siebenbrünnen, it's a pretty steep hike up to Fluhsee, where you'll be awarded with a splendid view of Simmental. Around the hut, there's plenty of wood to make a fire and cook the food you carried along. And then just enjoy the silence and the sound of the nearby waterfall!




On the second day, you can hike to Tierbergsattel and then to Iffigenalp (approx. 5-6 hrs), from where you can either return to Lenk by bus or walk back. Another option is to continue to Wildstrubelhütte if you fancy once standing on top of Wildstrubel :-)