Ming Tang

Understanding Earth Through Chemistry

Backpacking in the Alps, Switzerland

Switzerland was our first stop in 2015 trip to Europe. We spent three days backpacking in the Alps, one day in Interlaken and Zurich each. Although there were no technical challenges in our hiking plan, it was quite exhausting, especially the first day when we hiked 20 miles in the mountains. We came back to lodge almost at midnight, but it was totally worth it.

Walking on a street in San Juan, after dinner.

On the train to Zermatt.

On the beach at night.

Climbing.

On the beach at night.

View of glaciers at Gornergrat. The amount of glacier was declining.

San Juan.

Marching towards Mt. Matterhorn.

San Juan.

Mt. Matterhorn in the cloud. Matterhorn is a symbol of Alps. It’s only 4478m high, not much different from Mt. Whitney which we summited in 2014, but is the sixth most dangerous mountain in the world.

San Juan.

Sunlight through the cloud.

San Felipe del Morro Fortress, a 16th-century citadel.

A great lookout point with a chair.

San Felipe del Morro Fortress.

Xin in the sun.

Near San Felipe del Morro Fortress.

Matterhorn in dusk. It was 9 pm, and we were still 7 miles away from lodge. We used an offline map to find our way back. Saw nobody in the mountain.

Near San Felipe del Morro Fortress.

Lake Brienz. Had a break in Interlaken, a nice small city between two lakes. The water was crystal clear, sourced from glacier ice. Actually the water was so clean that not many fishes could survive.

Near San Felipe del Morro Fortress.

Lake Brienz.

Seven Seas Beach.

Lake Brienz.

Enjoying my coconut rum by the ocean.

Hiking towards Bachalpsee.

Huge fish lingering around by the resturant deck.

A goat on the cliff.

Swinging and water jumping in the forest, Fajado.

Bachalpsee.

Swinging and water jumping in the forest, Fajado.

An old couple sitting by Bachalpsee.

Swinging and water jumping in the forest, Fajado.

Blue flowers!

Flamenco Beach, Culebra Island.

Back from Bachalpsee.