Much to Sharon's chagrin, like many local hotels, our Caprice Hotel has no tea making facilities in our room. Our day starts with a cup of tea back home and Sharon then drinks countless more each day. Hot water in an urn and cups are provided at reception between 5 and 10pm, but not before 5pm, and no tea leaves or coffee is offered. We did try filling a vacuum flask with hot water before bed and using it next morning, but alas, after 8 or 9 hours the water was lukewarm only. Sharon is suffering caffeine withdrawal. 

Because of the amount of snow on the mountains many of my most desirable hikes are not possible. So today we were forced to hike a couple of my least popular trails. But with so much dramatic and beautiful scenery around, there was plenty we saw to reward our efforts.

We caught the mountain rail up to Kleine Scheidegg, which is 1,000 meters higher than Grindelwald. Having been hiking and/or skiing in this area for over 40 years, I must have travelled this steep winding route a hundred times, but each time the wonderful mountain scenery on all sides still sends a shiver down my spine and the urge to get out there on a challenging trail has hardly diminished. Bringing greater joy this time of course is that Sharon is here to share it with me. Seeing her enjoying and appreciating one of my great loves in life makes it all the more special and enjoyable for me. 

Arriving to Kleine Scheidegg also always excites me. It is the terminus for trains arriving from either Grindelwald or from Lauterbrunnen on the other side of the mountain, and the connection point for trains that do the steep climb up through a long tunnel carved out of the Eiger mountain to the Jungfraujoch 3,454m (11,333ft). This is 1,400m higher than Kleine Scheidegg and on a clear day the scenery here is spectacular. One feels on top of the world with the snowcapped peaks of the Swiss Alps stretching out seemingly to the horizon in all directions. It is one of the top Swiss tourist attractions and attracts hundreds every day. Thus, Kleine Scheidegg from mid-morning onwards is always busy with tourists bustling anxiously to join the train up through the Eiger. 

The weather has warmed up a little, with maximum temperatures of about 8 or 9, much more comfortable than yesterday. Our hiking route to Brandegg via Hollenstein meant that Grindelwald was much of the time in the distant background, but each view we had of it was usually dominated by the mountains towering over the village. Three to four hours of mostly descending trails nevertheless still provided a good physical challenge and we therefore felt totally justified in utilising the hotel's excellent steam bath, sauna and other spa facilities before heading off for dinner.