Switzerland

Our journey through Switzerland and Austria took us high into the Rätikon Alps, where rugged limestone peaks rise sharply above alpine valleys and borders blur along mountain ridgelines. With intention of breaking the new pair of boots for our Nepal adventure, I set out on the Rätikon High Trail Circuit with brand-new hiking shoes, a decision I would soon regret.

From the first days, the trek was punishing. Blisters and sore feet made every ascent feel longer, every descent more painful. Yet the mountains were relentless in their beauty, refusing to let us focus only on the discomfort. Dramatic cliffs dropped away beneath our boots, glaciers shimmered in the distance, and alpine meadows opened into sweeping panoramas that stretched across both countries.

The route demanded everything from us. We crossed glacier together, climbed exposed via ferrata sections anchored to sheer rock walls, and navigated narrow trails carved into the mountainside. Each challenge tested our resolve, but every summit and high pass delivered views that made the pain fade into insignificance.

By the end of the circuit, exhaustion mixed with quiet pride. The Rätikon Alps had pushed us hard, but rewarded us generously, proving once again that the most demanding journeys often become the most unforgettable.