Mountain Adventure in the Swiss Alps

Luca opens both eyes and breathes the smell in deep – mountain hay, dry and warm, filling the little wooden hut. Through the narrow window the peaks glow pink as fresh strawberries. Then Luca sits up, puts both hands on the windowsill and whispers: “I can do this today.”

Luca opens both eyes and breathes the smell in deep – mountain hay, dry and warm, filling the little wooden hut. Through the narrow window the peaks glow pink as fresh strawberries. Then Luca sits up, puts both hands on the windowsill and whispers: “I can do this today.”

Out on the wooden bench the morning air is so clear that Luca could almost bite the moon. Luca nibbles bread and alpine cheese and watches the larches nodding in the wind. “Can you do it?” the wind murmurs. Luca nods back: “I can do this.”

Out on the wooden bench the morning air is so clear that Luca could almost bite the moon. Luca nibbles bread and alpine cheese and watches the larches nodding in the wind. “Can you do it?” the wind murmurs. Luca nods back: “I can do this.”

The mountain meadow glitters with dew, and Luca's shoes are soaked in a moment. Squish, splash, squish! Then, in a tuft of tall grass, tiny alpenroses shine so fiercely purple that Luca stops, kneels down and looks at every single blossom like a small wonder.

The mountain meadow glitters with dew, and Luca's shoes are soaked in a moment. Squish, splash, squish! Then, in a tuft of tall grass, tiny alpenroses shine so fiercely purple that Luca stops, kneels down and looks at every single blossom like a small wonder.

One blossom is bigger than all the rest, and it nods in a certain direction – behind a mossy rock a narrow path slips away into the shadows. Luca blinks. The path is steep and stony. Luca's heart beats a little faster. “I can do this,” Luca whispers, and takes the first step onto the unknown trail.

One blossom is bigger than all the rest, and it nods in a certain direction – behind a mossy rock a narrow path slips away into the shadows. Luca blinks. The path is steep and stony. Luca's heart beats a little faster. “I can do this,” Luca whispers, and takes the first step onto the unknown trail.

The path winds higher and higher. Once a foot slips on a wet stone – Luca stumbles, grabs both knees, and stands right back up. Onward. Then all at once a young ibex is standing there, with small soft horns, watching Luca with big amber eyes.

The path winds higher and higher. Once a foot slips on a wet stone – Luca stumbles, grabs both knees, and stands right back up. Onward. Then all at once a young ibex is standing there, with small soft horns, watching Luca with big amber eyes.

The ibex trots off down into the valley, and Luca follows. There – a mountain stream! The water shoots glittering over the stones, so cold that just looking at it makes Luca's toes curl. The stream is wide, too. Luca scans the stones: big, middling, wobbly. Will it work?

The ibex trots off down into the valley, and Luca follows. There – a mountain stream! The water shoots glittering over the stones, so cold that just looking at it makes Luca's toes curl. The stream is wide, too. Luca scans the stones: big, middling, wobbly. Will it work?

Luca stretches out one foot – the first stone holds. The second wobbles, so Luca jumps quickly to the third. Water splashes up onto one knee, cold as snow. One more step. One more. Then both feet land on the far side, and Luca shouts, “Ha!” The ibex blinks and trots on.

Luca stretches out one foot – the first stone holds. The second wobbles, so Luca jumps quickly to the third. Water splashes up onto one knee, cold as snow. One more step. One more. Then both feet land on the far side, and Luca shouts, “Ha!” The ibex blinks and trots on.

Beyond the stream a quiet hollow opens up, all covered in alpenroses, with a little lake that holds the sky. Luca saw this lake once in a picture and has dreamed about it ever since. Now Luca is really here, sitting at the edge, one hand in the icy water, smiling.

Beyond the stream a quiet hollow opens up, all covered in alpenroses, with a little lake that holds the sky. Luca saw this lake once in a picture and has dreamed about it ever since. Now Luca is really here, sitting at the edge, one hand in the icy water, smiling.

A golden eagle circles high above, wide and calm as a kite in the wind. He tips his wings to the left – Luca follows his shadow and finds the way back. The alpenroses nod as Luca tramps past them. “I can do this,” says Luca once more, and this time it sounds completely calm.

A golden eagle circles high above, wide and calm as a kite in the wind. He tips his wings to the left – Luca follows his shadow and finds the way back. The alpenroses nod as Luca tramps past them. “I can do this,” says Luca once more, and this time it sounds completely calm.

Inside the hut it smells of warm wood and candle wax. Luca rolls up under the thick wool blanket while the hut creaks softly in the evening wind. Outside, above the peaks, the first stars twinkle on, one after another, as if winking at Luca – just like the alpenroses this morning.

Inside the hut it smells of warm wood and candle wax. Luca rolls up under the thick wool blanket while the hut creaks softly in the evening wind. Outside, above the peaks, the first stars twinkle on, one after another, as if winking at Luca – just like the alpenroses this morning.