These are a bunch of photos covering random events
Out in Zurich with the Candian Au Pair crowd (2001).
Melinda with Curious George.
A few parties at my apartment in Baden (2001).
(L) Me and the two Alexes on Swiss National Day (2001). (R) Some of the rugby crew at our old haunt, the Oliver Twist Pub in Zurich.
(L) Coolest snowboard outfit EVER (2002). (R) Marnie’s friends Scott, Mark and Fran come to Zurich (2002).
Josh and I at Zurich Oktoberfest (2002).
(L) Snowboarding at Klosters with Nick Chittenden and The Judge Paul Morris (2002). (R) Melinda and I at the St Gallen 10’s tournament (2001).
Zurich Street Parade (2001).
Here’s a collection of photos from several hikes I did over the summer of 2002 in Central Switzerland…
Appenzellerland – 11-12 May
For the first hike of the year we (Mike and Amy Griggs, Nick Waddsley and Mark McCarthy – all friends from work) decided to head towards the hills surrounding 2502m Saentis in Appenzell, east of Zurich near the Austrian/Liechetnstein border. The weather was utterly miserable and it rained most of the weekend, but after the winter months it was great to get out and stretch our legs.
Me, Mike, Mark, Nick.
Schoen Chulm – 28-29 May
This was a fun Spring hike I did with Mike and Amy Griggs – and their dog Kota. We started the hike at Fluelen, at the southern end of Urnersee, and caught a small cable car half way up the mountain. We knew there would still be some snow over the pass, but were surprised just how much snow cover there was on the route. We often had to break trail across the Spring snow – good fun, but hard work. The route took us over the Schoen Chulm mountain pass on the flank of 2100m Rophaien, past an iced over alpine lake and to the quaint Lidernenhuette where we spent the night. The next day was an easy walk down the valley back to Sisikon on the shore of Urnersee again, where we enjoyed a beer in the sun.
Getting started.
At the base of the pass. Breaking trail.
Nearing the top!
At the top of the pass. Looking north, with frozen lake.
Kota standing on my shoes to get his paws out of the snow!
Sunset from Lidernenhuette.
(Thanks to Mike Griggs for the photos)
Gemmipass und Rote Chumme – 21-22 June
Another weekend, another hike with the Griggs! On Saturday we hiked south from Kandersteg (one of my favourite places to hike in the Berner Oberland) up to the 2316m Gemmipass, where we spent the night in the huge mountain hut there. On Sunday we headed west up over the Rote Chumme and finished at Adelboden.
Looking back towards Kandersteg. Crossing a stream on the way up.
(L) At the mountain pass – with Gemmidog. (R) Me, Amy and Mike, with Leukerbad below us.
The view from the pass, looking south towards the mountains of the Oberwallis in the direction of Zermatt. The Matterhorn is the second mountain from the right, with 4500m Weisshorn on the left.
Early start Sunday morning. Kota loves the Alps!
Heading up towards the pass.
From Rote Chumme, looking NE towards Kandersteg.
Ashley crosses the snowfield. Mike enjoys the view.
Love it!
Carsten with Kota.
The finish line – Adelboden.
This was a three-week backpacking trip through three countries across the Yucatan Peninsula. Unfortunately I didn’t have a digital camera back then but I have a few scanned photos that I’ll include here.
The journey began in Belize on the sleepy island of Caye Caulker popular with backpackers. It was good to have a few days doing nothing except working on my tan and eating a lifetime’s supply of lobster. We also took a trip out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve where we snorkelled with stingrays and small sharks.
From Belize City we took a loooong bus ride west inland, across the country and into the El Peten region of Guatemala. Our destination was the Mayan city of Tikal which turned out to be nothing short of AMAZING! Pyramids and temples rise above the rainforest canopy, spider monkeys and howler monkeys swing through the trees obove you and all sorts of birdlife can be seen and heard. Wow! I definitely recommend staying IN Tikal if you can find a vacancy – Jaguar Inn was where we stayed and the only backpacker option there (apart from camping). The definite highlight was a 4am wake up and torchlight walk through the ruins to climb on top of the Pyramid for sunrise.
At dawn, alone on top of a Mayan pyramid with some Swiss chocolate and a delicious bottle of Aussie red wine to toast the occasion.
We had a short stopover in Flores to arrange our transportation into Mexico – personally I didn’t think much of the town. A bumpy and long minibus ride along dirt pot-holed roads took us to the border where we had to take a small boat trip downstream to “cross” into Mexico. We jumped onto another bus which got us to Palenque – yet another of the great Mayan ruined cities. Also nearby were the refreshing rockpools and waterfalls of Agua Azul – a relief from the jungle heat.
A temple at Palenque.
The falls at Agua Azul.
Our last destination in the Chiapas region of Mexico was the Spanish colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas up in the mountains – I loved this town for its architecture, vibrancy and history as home of the Zapatista rebels. While there we took a day tour out to the Canyon del Sumidero – a mile deep canyon that you can explore by boat. It was an amazing ride, the only downer being all the rubbish and plastic bottles that completely inundated the waterway.
Canyon del Sumidero.