IN THE HEART OF THE ALPS

The cable car was full of skiers clad in parkas and snow boots, and holding their ski

gear atop shoulders. The heavy ski boots and the gear made a thunder like noise as

everyone moved into the vestibule. We were surrounded by giffling teenagers, bright

eyed toddlers and silver haired senior citizens. Everyone was on his way to the top of

Glacier 3000, the ski region in the heart of the Vaud Alps.

From the base of Col Du Pillon to the mid station of Tete Aux Chamois and then to the

top, the 100 odd people were whisked away up in a matter of minutes.

There was an audible gasp of appreciation as tourists stepped out of the cable car. All

around us was miles of snow and the Alps. Our feet sank several inches into the snow

as we, clad in heavy woolens, tried to walk on the white surface. It felt like walking on

the moon.

Does everyone in Switzerland go skiing, we asked the guide, “It’s a bright and sunny

day, the snow is inviting and to top it all it is a Saturday,” she smiled.

Zapped by the splendor, we were standing at a height of 3000 meters above ground on

the mountain top station. Designed by famous Swiss architect Mario Botta, the entire

station with its paraphernalia is geared to provide almost everything that a person would

need at that place. The complex has a lovely restaurant, sun terrace, picnic area,

conference halls and a shop too.

The temperature was freezing at -10 degree and we pulled our parkas closer, our teeth

chattering. Yet it was difficult to tear our eyes from the breathtaking panorama and

move indoors.

Un-mind full of the chill, the skiers strapped on their gear and began waltzing down the

dangerous looking slopes. As we watched, in the distance, a skier tumbled and

somersaulted twice before continuing his race again.

Escaping into the warm interiors of the snow bus, we rode towards the spectacular

Quille Du Diable, the Devil’s Cone. Leaving its marks on the snow, bus took us to the

precipice of the glacier from where the Alps looked so close that one wanted to stretch

out one’s hand and touch them.

Although romantic ride of the dog sledge drawn by Huskies would have been my

preference, it was hard to complain about anything when so much beauty surrounded

us on all sides. Clambering down, we tried our moon walk on the fresh snow that was of

the previous evening. The sheer sight of virgin white all around inspired us to ignore the

cold and traipse around.

“You are a lucky lot”, our guide told us. “Weather is clear and you can see all the

mountain peaks. In bad weather all you see id fog.”

We saw nature in all its glory. Famous alpine peaks – Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau,

Matterhorn – stood majestically around us. We were lucky, indeed.

Enraptured, we watched a father lead his little son through the intricacies of

snowboarding. On another side, a young couple, probably on a honeymoon, was

holding hands and gliding together effortlessly on their snowboards. The entire glacier

was crawling with enthusiastic skiers. It almost made me want to put on the skis and

take off, throwing all caution to the winds.

The mountain air, crisp and bracing, brought pangs of hunger along with the ozone. It

was time to raid restaurant Botta 3000. Digging into the freshly prepared rostii and

raclette, we watched the snow colored peaks in the distance. The robust red wine and

the chocolate dessert were just as perfect as the scenery outside. The skiers, their

appetite worked up after the exercise, were attacking the food with gusto.

The wind had got stronger as we went out once more, eager to reach the pinnacle of

the glacier. Wading through ankle deep snow, we manoeuvred our way to the top

fighting for breath. The panoramic view was a revelation – how magnificient nature’s

canvas could be ! Panting after the climg, we all fell silent as we paid our homage to the

Almighty. The Alpine beauty and the crystalline silence was an experience that can

hardly be expressed in words.

-DR. NAVRAJ SINGH SANDHU, www.navraj@gmail.com  

IN THE HEART OF THE ALPS

The cable car was full of skiers clad in parkas and snow boots, and holding their ski

gear atop shoulders. The heavy ski boots and the gear made a thunder like noise as

everyone moved into the vestibule. We were surrounded by giffling teenagers, bright

eyed toddlers and silver haired senior citizens. Everyone was on his way to the top of

Glacier 3000, the ski region in the heart of the Vaud Alps.

From the base of Col Du Pillon to the mid station of Tete Aux Chamois and then to the

top, the 100 odd people were whisked away up in a matter of minutes.

There was an audible gasp of appreciation as tourists stepped out of the cable car. All

around us was miles of snow and the Alps. Our feet sank several inches into the snow

as we, clad in heavy woolens, tried to walk on the white surface. It felt like walking on

the moon.

Does everyone in Switzerland go skiing, we asked the guide, “It’s a bright and sunny

day, the snow is inviting and to top it all it is a Saturday,” she smiled.

Zapped by the splendor, we were standing at a height of 3000 meters above ground on

the mountain top station. Designed by famous Swiss architect Mario Botta, the entire

station with its paraphernalia is geared to provide almost everything that a person would

need at that place. The complex has a lovely restaurant, sun terrace, picnic area,

conference halls and a shop too.

The temperature was freezing at -10 degree and we pulled our parkas closer, our teeth

chattering. Yet it was difficult to tear our eyes from the breathtaking panorama and

move indoors.

Un-mind full of the chill, the skiers strapped on their gear and began waltzing down the

dangerous looking slopes. As we watched, in the distance, a skier tumbled and

somersaulted twice before continuing his race again.

Escaping into the warm interiors of the snow bus, we rode towards the spectacular

Quille Du Diable, the Devil’s Cone. Leaving its marks on the snow, bus took us to the

precipice of the glacier from where the Alps looked so close that one wanted to stretch

out one’s hand and touch them.

Although romantic ride of the dog sledge drawn by Huskies would have been my

preference, it was hard to complain about anything when so much beauty surrounded

us on all sides. Clambering down, we tried our moon walk on the fresh snow that was of

the previous evening. The sheer sight of virgin white all around inspired us to ignore the

cold and traipse around.

“You are a lucky lot”, our guide told us. “Weather is clear and you can see all the

mountain peaks. In bad weather all you see id fog.”

We saw nature in all its glory. Famous alpine peaks – Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau,

Matterhorn – stood majestically around us. We were lucky, indeed.

Enraptured, we watched a father lead his little son through the intricacies of

snowboarding. On another side, a young couple, probably on a honeymoon, was

holding hands and gliding together effortlessly on their snowboards. The entire glacier

was crawling with enthusiastic skiers. It almost made me want to put on the skis and

take off, throwing all caution to the winds.

The mountain air, crisp and bracing, brought pangs of hunger along with the ozone. It

was time to raid restaurant Botta 3000. Digging into the freshly prepared rostii and

raclette, we watched the snow colored peaks in the distance. The robust red wine and

the chocolate dessert were just as perfect as the scenery outside. The skiers, their

appetite worked up after the exercise, were attacking the food with gusto.

The wind had got stronger as we went out once more, eager to reach the pinnacle of

the glacier. Wading through ankle deep snow, we manoeuvred our way to the top

fighting for breath. The panoramic view was a revelation – how magnificient nature’s

canvas could be ! Panting after the climg, we all fell silent as we paid our homage to the

Almighty. The Alpine beauty and the crystalline silence was an experience that can

hardly be expressed in words.

-DR. NAVRAJ SINGH SANDHU, www.navraj@gmail.com