Switzerland

We are on our way to Switzerland today and back to the Engadine Valley. It will be our fourth hiking adventure in this beautiful valley. We return to the Engadine every three years from our home on Cape Cod. On this trip we will be hiking for 17 days and returning to the USA on September 18. The Valley is located in the far eastern part of Switzerland and is bordered by Austria and Italy. The Valley is only 60 miles long and the Inn River flows the entire length into Austria and eventually into the Danube River. The train and bus system connect each of the 5 small villages we will be staying in and make it much easier to move from hotel to hotel and to reach every part of the Valley. The major town (population only 4,000) in the Valley is St. Moritz, a world class ski resort. The town hosted the 1928 Winter Olympics and the 1948 Winter Olympics. With its beautiful mountains, massive glaciers, emerald blue lakes, endless hiking trails, charming hotels and breathtaking landscapes, the Engadine Valley is one of our favorite places in Switzerland. Hiking is our passion and no matter our age, we will always find a mountain to hike around. We live in a busy and noisy world, for us hiking adventures are voyages of self discovery, they enrich our appreciation of life and offer a doorway to a new beautiful world. Maybe, just maybe, nature will survive humans and all that we do to destroy the environment. Switzerland's 1,400 glaciers have lost more than half their total volume since the early 1930s and researchers say that the ice is now retreating faster because of global warming. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, many of these glaciers will just disappear. A terrible loss for all of us. The beautiful thing about hiking is that it is truly an activity everyone can do. Whether you are young or old, an expert or an amateur, there is a hiking trail out there that will be perfect for you. Switzerland has an incredible network of gondolas and ski lifts that transport you up from the valley floor to those hiking trails and mountain top restaurants. We have included photos from our last Engadine Valley trip in 2022 to give you a preview of the adventures ahead of us and the beauty of the places we will explore.

Love to all,

Barbara and Joe

Saturday, August 30, 2025