Day 8: 4 (or 11) Panoramic Miles from Mannlichen to Wengen

The Clarks joined us for our adventure the next day.  Cory and Kristen talked to us about this hike many years ago when Cory was on sabbatical and their family traveled here the first time.  We have waited and waited and we were so excited to share it with our kids.  Zac sat this one out ("I do not hike") and we were disappointed but let him make his own decision.

The night before on our way up to Murren from the Clarks' AirB&B, there was some difficulty in the gondola.  The power was completely out and the conductor was attempting to start it for about 15 minutes.  We had an engineer on board from Orlando who worked full time at Universal fixing ride issues and his presence and stories had us laughing and comfortable.  The Germans on board told us we were lucky we could not understand what the conductor was saying.  Ha!  It was so funny to us and less funny to our exhausted, slightly anxious kids.  We swore them to secrecy, knowing Nic's true fear of gondolas and worried he would sit this one out if he knew the experience we had just hours before.  We all made it and told Nic about it at the top of Mannlichen.

The Royal Walk, named for the three triumvirate peaks sharing power over the region: Monch, Jungfrau, and Eiger.  Looking at the weather forecast, we knew this would be the best day for our most-anticipated hike and we struck gold with sunny/partly cloudy skies and full visibility.

Mountains really are our happiest place.

Heidi!  Miss talking to you, my friend.

We reached the playground and Owen shocked a few people doing this flip off the tiny trampoline.

Not sure if you can beat this location for pushing kids on swings.

The kids spun on this so long that Kate had to race to the bathroom, thinking she would vomit.

Nic and Ty ordered their lunch at 10:50am, so the kids joined him with hot cocoa.

A fountain in a field of flowers.

"Would you Rather" questions with Brady.

The flowers!  So delightful.  After hiking Timp two weeks before, though, I am convinced our flowers match theirs and feel so lucky I can pop up a mountain and see them every summer.

Relaxing lunch stop along the way.  Owen had asked how long we would hike, and we assured him it was about 4 miles but we could extend it if we wanted.  After a pick-me-up lunch of bread covered in raclette cheese and lentil soup (my favorite lunch of the trip), and with a bribe of chocolate and Coke Zero, he agreed to go the 7 more to Wengen following offshoot trails.  We were so happy!

The kids are now begging for a fussball table after all the games with Clarks.

Nic and Ty decided to run ahead, initially hoping we would take the shorter trail and meet them back.  We made sure they knew we all intended to do the scenic route and it was the best decision of our trip.

Stream crossings, waterfalls that roared and felt so close, glacier views, and a trail that left us all alone in the valley rather than streaming along with all the other visitors.  I'm grateful for accessibility and so happy that Panoramic trail is maintained in a way others can join, but also grateful to shoot off through the streams.

The kids were in love and Kate says this was the #2 experience of the entire trip.

With 2 miles to go, Owen started to fall apart.  Obviously exhausted from late nights and early mornings, plus taking on a hike much longer than anticipated had him distressed.  He had hiked the 15.5 mile Timp (a much harder trail), but was not quite prepared for the mental toll of this one.  To be fair, my knee was on fire from the constant downhill to the point that I was limping aggressively by the end and wondering if my hiking days this summer were over.  I know his little legs were feeling it even more.  It took some encouragement, massage, and love to get him down.  My favorite moment was when he asked, "How much longer?" for the 22nd time.  Brady showed him the sign that said 30 minutes to Wengen.  A few minutes later, we passed another sign and it also said 30 min to Wengen.  He almost lost it.

Descending into Wengen, we learned that sheep also wear bells.  We bought grapes, the promised chocolate, and the Swiss cookies Brady loves and sat/laid on the grass.

That evening, we cooked up pasta and canned pasta sauce with a fresh salad.  Apparently my kids were a little burned out on the Swiss entrees because I have never had so many compliments on dinner.  I also bought a peach tart that was actually only tart crust, so that was a funny moment.  That evening was the semi-final World Cup match: Argentina verses England.  We tried to get the TV working but ended up streaming it around the iPad.  All five us of cheered on Argentina as they came from behind in the closing minutes of the game and scored twice.  Such a thriller after such a thrilling day.