Hiking in the clouds

We set out on this cloudy Saturday to hike the mountains above Walensee, a lake we had passed on our way to Innsbruck that was very picturesque. During the hike we learned that this area is refered to as "Heidiland." (We never saw Heidi or Goat Peter while hiking and the only cow bell we heard, other than close to town, was on the neck of a dog at the top of our hike. I think we're going to have to find one for Sydney!)

The easiest way to reach the town of Amden, the point from which we were to begin hiking, is via train and then bus. The connections are wonderful, you get off the train and the bus is waiting right outside the station. Although we couldn't get a connection out of the main Zurich train station until 11:15, we were in town and ready to hike by 12:30.

As the bus headed up from Walensee to the town of Amden, it became quite clear that our views on this day would not include much of the lake. By the time we had hiked just a few minutes up from the main part of town, we could no longer even view the lake. At about an hour into our hike we were completely in the clouds, as seen above! But the path was through a nice wooded area, so we trekked on.

Then suddenly, it began to lighten and we became hopeful that the sun would poke through. Not only did the sun begin to shine, but we realized that the clouds weren't burning off, but that we had hiked above them. This range of mountains is called the Churfirstens.



The mountains were magnificent with the fog covering the lower elevations and the jagged peaks showing above. As we hike higher, we realized the clouds were completely underneath us, filling in the entire valley from which we had come. We hiked as far as the guest house (dormitory style) at Oberchaseren (1649 m), but did not have time to hike to the highest peak, Speer as it was about an additional hour round trip. We inquired in the guest house if the chairlift was open (this would determine which route to take back to town) and found a very gracious English-speaking owner. She had lived in Colorado for a year with family. I can only hope my German is that good at the end of one year as her English was!

With the chairlift open, we opted to make this hike a loop, and so we headed down the other direction, back into the clouds, heading for the chairlift which would cut about 50 minutes off of our hike and with the low visibility due to clouds as well the lateness of the hour, we decided this was the best alternative. The last lift was scheduled for 4:45 and we knew we were cutting it close, so we did not spend much time enjoying the view, but headed back into the clouds. With the clouds, the trail was difficult to follow at times, at one point we missed the indication on the rock that the trail was moving off the wider road. We continued on the wider road, past a milk house, but then it seemed to disappear. With visibility lessening, we quickly decided to retrace our steps and saw where we missed the red and white trail marker on a rock.

I was pondering while we were hiking in the clouds, how much of our life is "in the clouds," so to speak. We often travel a road where we can see no more than a few feet in front of us. We don't know what the next few hours or the next moment will bring. During those times we don't see the beautiful of creation around us, as it is hidden from our view. It is there, it is simply our perspective that is limited. I believe the Lord allows us those "cloudy times," although for many reasons, at least one may be to teach us to trust Him. We can only "go forward" if we stick to the path that He marks. If we try and take "another path" we will only lose our way. His path may be more difficult than the wider path, but it is the only sure way to travel. Taking the easier, wider pathway may result in being lost in the mountains, unsure of where the dangerous cliffs are located or what direction to head. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." Oh may I in life learn to always trust and follow His path!