Tell us your favorite camping meal!

Do you have any suggestions for our next open-air dinner? What's light enough to carry in a backpack, easy to prepare yet more yammy yammy than all the happy astronaut meals that are best before 2029? Please send a comment with your recommendation

Tropfloch Caves

After an unsuccessful first attempt to locate the Tropfloch caves a few weeks ago (see post of June 6, Little Scandinavia), we have returned to this fairytale region south of 'Sieben Hengste' (seven stallions'ridge) near Habkern, Bernese Oberland. Now, with the snow gone, it was much easier to reach the caves. Right now we are sitting around the fire enjoying the evening in the woods half way down. To all those who prefer a smokey evening in front of a fire to a snobby prosecco party, enjoy your evening!

Sentiero Alpino Calanca - that 4-day ridge hike amost made me go mad

As promised here the details on Sentiero Alpino Calanca, a tough 3- to 4-day mountain hike in the South East of Switzerland. I loved the astonishing view (just click on the album and you'll know what I mean), I enjoyed the unspoilt nature of these mountains but let me tell you, some of the more exposed passages made my knees feel like jelly. One must be mad to build a one-foot wide hiking trail into a 3'000ft vertical wall with no chains or security ropes. Mad, and I almost feaked out. I was seriously considering calling a helicopter to get me out of it. Thanks god, my dear travel companion turned out to be a mountain goat with the talent to calm the atmosphere. Thanks Sue!

Sentiero Alpino Calanca

For all those experienced mountain hikers, who feel capable of some really tricky parts: Trailhead is San Bernardino Moutain Pass (between Belinzona and Chur, Switzerland, easily accessable by public buses). 1st day: San Bernardino - Refugio Pian Gran (self-catering), 2nd day: Pian Gran - Bivak Ganan (self-catering), 3rd day: Ganan - Cabanna Buffalora (catered mountain cottage). Reservations for all 3 locations recommended, more details on: http://www.sentiero-calanca.ch/ (official website of ASAC, the trail management association)

Heart-shaped lake

Currently on Sentiero Alpino Calanca, day 3, just arrived in the cosy log cabin of Buffalora after lunch at this freezing cold mountain lake. Ciao from the Southern Swiss Alps.