1. The Great Alpine Traverse

2. THE BEGINNING The trip started in Geneva, Switzerland. From the Geneva airport we took a van to Chamonix, France. We stayed in the Hotel Richemond in the center of town on a pedestrian-only street. The trip started in Geneva, Switzerland. From the Geneva airport we took a van to Chamonix, France. We stayed in the Hotel Richemond in the center of town on a pedestrian-only street.

3. Our Room in Chamonix

4. Chamonix From our room

5. Mont Blanc from our room in Chamonix

6. Our “warm- up” hike was to the Aiguile Rouge. On our way we spotted ibex.

7. We were told it is rare to see them, but they didn’t seem to know that.

8. At the Aiguille with Mont Blanc in the background

9. FROM FRANCE TO ITALY We took 5 cable cars to get from Chamonix in France to Courmayeur in Italy – a truly spectacular trip. The first cable car goes to the Aiguille (Needle) du Midi. We took 5 cable cars to get from Chamonix in France to Courmayeur in Italy – a truly spectacular trip. The first cable car goes to the Aiguille (Needle) du Midi.

10. The Panorama From the Aiguille du Midi (12,678 feet)

11. Our Merry Band

12. The Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice)

13. The point on the right is called the “Pouce du Geant” – Giant’s Thumb

14. After our aerial traverse of the Mont Blanc Massif, we settled into the Hotel Europe in Aosta, Italy

15. Hiking the Grand Balconeta del Cervinia

16. We ate lunch at this charming refuge

17. In the afternoon a view of the Matterhorn from Italy

19. Cervinia, Italy with Monte Cervino (the Italian name for the Matterhorn) in the background

20. ITALY TO SWITZERLAND Day 5 – we cross into Switzerland. We took a cable care up to the Theodul Pass at 11,500 feet. We crossed into Switzerland hiking down the Theodul glacier. Day 5 – we cross into Switzerland. We took a cable care up to the Theodul Pass at 11,500 feet. We crossed into Switzerland hiking down the Theodul glacier.

21. Roped up, hiking down the glacier

22. With our mountain guide at glacier’s end

23. JAMES James was born and bred in South Australia. He worked as a chef before he became a guide. He guides in the Outback as well as Europe. JAMES James was born and bred in South Australia. He worked as a chef before he became a guide. He guides in the Outback as well as Europe.

24. Arriving in Zermatt. We took the high road. The others took the low road

25. Hotel Alpenblick, Zermatt, Switzerland

26. GLACIER EXPRESS We took the famous train the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Saint Moritz. From there we walked to Pontresina. We took the famous train the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Saint Moritz. From there we walked to Pontresina.

27. The Hotel Walther, Pontresina

29. Our room

30. Pontresina from our Room

31. The town

32. The hotel’s picnic at the lake above the town

33. The hills above Pontresina

35. Pontresina in the Valley

37. Hotel Walther from the chair lift

38. Annie

39. From our window at Diavolezza Refuge

40. Jim, Ruth and James at Diavolezza

41. ANNIE Annie was born and raised in a small village in Burgundy. She guides in Europe and the American Southwest. ANNIE Annie was born and raised in a small village in Burgundy. She guides in Europe and the American Southwest.

42. The next morning we tackled Mount Pers (10,600 ft). Sunrise from Mount Pers

43. Summit of Mount Pers

44. Panorama from Mount Pers

45. Day 10 – Hiking along the Inn River

47. Edelweiss

48. We approach the Castle of Tarasp

49. From the top

50. The village below

51. The moat

52. Our room in Hotel Meisser in Guarda, which is on the Inn River in Lower Engadine (Switzerland)

53. SWITZERLAND TO AUSTRIA The hike to the Jamtal Hütte in Austria is 4,00 feet up to the Futschol Pass (9,100 ft) followed by a 2,000 foot descent. The hike to the Jamtal Hütte in Austria is 4,00 feet up to the Futschol Pass (9,100 ft) followed by a 2,000 foot descent. We decided to ride with James and the overnight bags to the hut. We decided to ride with James and the overnight bags to the hut.

54. On the way we stopped for lunch and dessert in the Austrian restaurant where James used to work as a chef

55. The Panorama from the Hut

56. Our Room at Jamtal Hütte

57. On to Lofer, Austria

58. Our hotel, Das Brau ahead on the left

59. Our room

60. The view from the room

61. The Alps from Lofer

62. The village

64. The church

65. The square

66. Toys “F” Us

67. The hotel restaurant from our window and our waitress, Christine

68. Day 13 - we walked along the river to the next village

69. The path led through a meadow

70. The shed is used to store wood for the cold winters

71. The Next Village

72. Rafters pull over to scout the rapids

73. Off they go

75. Oops!

76. Time for lunch

77. Christina sets up for dinner again. Today she is wearing her lederhosen

78. FROM AUSTRIA TO GERMANY Today we started hiking at the Diessbach Stausee, a high alpine lake. Today we started hiking at the Diessbach Stausee, a high alpine lake.

79. The rock changes to limestone

81. We look for the Ingalstädter House where lunch awaits

82. We see it in the distance

83. Finally - the Ingalstädter and lunch

84. After lunch it’s up and down (note the red and white trail marker)

85. Through meadows

86. Past sheep

87. Our refuge is hidden somewhere below

88. Annie comes back to supervise us on the steep descent

90. To Kärlinger House

91. Day 15 – Our last hike. We leave Kärlinger House behind

92. And hike down 3,350 feet

93. Annie called this “Lombard Street”

94. We hiked down through the forest

95. A look back

96. Past the church

97. To Konigsee

98. SALZBURG

99. Our room in the Hotel Gablebrau

100. The view from the room

101. Our restaurant below

102. St. Peter’s Square. We had dinner and live Mozart concert upstairs.

103. A great day for a wedding

104. The backstreets of Salzburg

107. The Hohensalzburg Fortress

109. Saltzburg from the fortress

110. The Mirabell Palace

111. View of the Hohensalzburg Fortress from Mirabell Gardens

112. The Zwerglgarten (Dwarf’s Garden) at the Mirabell

114. The train to Vienna. We had the whole compartment to ourselves.

115. VIENNA Our hotel - Im Palais Schwartzenberg

116. The room

118. The view from the window

119. The grounds

120. The garden statues

121. The steps down from the ballroom

122. The pond at the far side looking back at the Palais

123. Returning from the pond. Our window is the open one at the top

124. The evening chocolate. The next day’s weather is marked

125. The view from the window at night

126. Vienna’s answer to the space needle

127. Schwartzenberg Platz. Our hotel is behind to the right.

128. Karlskirche

129. Stephensdom Cathedral – the heart of Vienna

130. Stephensdom was originally built in the 13 th century. The Gothic nave and side chapels were rebuilt in the 14 th and 15 th centuries. The outbuildings are Baroque additions.

131. Viennese Diet Tip: I started a diet. I quit drinking and smoking and after fourteen days I lost exactly two weeks.

132. Ruprechtskirche Legend says the church was built in 740. The oldest part remaining is from the 11 th century. St. Ruprecht was the patron saint of the salt merchants. Ruprechtskirche Legend says the church was built in 740. The oldest part remaining is from the 11 th century. St. Ruprecht was the patron saint of the salt merchants.

133. Vienna – where they really go for Baroque

134. Roman Ruins below the city – the remains of a hypocaust. This was used to heat the floors from below.

135. The Hofburg – The Habsburgs’ Winter Palace

136. Schweizertor This 16 th century Renaissance gateway leads to the oldest part of the Hofburg.

138. The hall of the Neue Burg. It was added in 1881-1913. Five years after its completion, the Habsburg empire ended.

139. Sammlung Alter Musikinstrumente in the Neue Burg. It has one of the finest collections of Renaissance instruments in the world.

143. Prunksaal (Grand Hall) Now the National Library

144. The hall was dsigned by Erlach the Elder and the style is full-blown High Baroque

146. The frescoes on the ceiling are by Daniel Gran

147. We went to the Museum of Applied Arts. The sculpture in the garden.

148. For children to play on

149. The gate to the Belvedere

150. The Belvedere Palace

152. The Belvedere Gardens

153. Schwarzenberg from Belvedere The Third Window from the left at the top is ours

154. Looking back from our window to the Belvedere Gardens (on the left)

155. Schönbrunn Palace The Habsburg’s Summer Residence

156. The Roman Fountain

157. Schönbrunn Gardens

158. The Neptune Fountain

160. The Glorietta Built in 1775, the Neo-Classical arcade crowns the hill behind the palace

161. The palace from the Glorietta

162. THE END And on to Antarctica and Patagonia in January, 2005