Niesen

Dominating the view from Spiez and our balcony, was the imposing hulk of Niesen or 'the Swiss Pyramid'.

Last Thursday, we set out to reach the top of this mountain and started by taking a very short railway journey from Spiez to Mülenen where the funicular railway station was situated. At the foot of the mountain, the Kander river was swollen with Spring melt-water.

Then it was onward and upward. Starting at the funicular station, we were already at 2,274ft above sea level. The funicular is in two sections and the first section takes you to 5,476ft at a maximum inclination of 66%. The second section rises even more steeply at 68% to take you to the top at 7,664ft. As you might expect, the views are pretty good from the top.

From this vantage point, you can clearly see the lake 'Thunersee' below and you can just make out 'Brienzersee' beyond. Between the two lakes lies the town of Interlaken.

Up here, Paragliders circled the skies with their swooshing sounds as they flew by.

The pilots of these gliders must have had a spectacular view, but by 'eck it must have been cold up there!

Whatever the gliders could do, the Alpine Choughs (Pyrrhocorax graculus) seemed determined to prove that they were better.

Malcolm and his mum were enjoying the view too...

Much more from Niesen tomorrow.