Tiptoe Trough The Tall Alps

If you're planning an invigorating hike across Switzerland this year, you've got plenty to do to prepare, from booking your flight to drawing up an itinerary. But one of the first things you should do is pack plenty of mosquito killers for the trail. You'd think that a combination of high altitude, seriously cold winters, and short summers would conspire to eradicate insect nuisances like mosquitoes from the Swiss environment, but you'd be wrong. Mosquitoes and their cousins, the sandflies, make an effective living snacking on the Swiss and their visitors. Classic debuggers like Off! and DEET-based products, such as the locally-available ExoPic, work very well on both mosquitoes and sandflies, but beware: highly-concentrated DEET has a tendency to melt plastics, and if you're not careful can turn that expensive orienteering compass into a mass of sticky goo.

Yodel-ay-dee-hoo

Besides backpacks , the most important part of any hiking ensemble should be your hiking boots. It goes without saying that you should buy boots that fit well, but we'll mention it anyway. Don't be tempted to purchase a pair of boots if the size is even slightly off, even if they're otherwise perfect, or you'll pay for it later with blisters. We also recommend that you choose a high-quality brand made out of flexible, breathable leather or cloth (believe us, you'll appreciate the "breathable" part at the end of the day). Don't buy your boots at the Megamart, either, unless you want to shell out some substantial francs along the way for new ones; good, solid boots will last for years, and they're worth their weight in dollars. If you can, shop at an outfitter that specializes in boots. Also, do your best to find boots that come already broken-in; otherwise, use a pair you've had the opportunity to break in, or break in a new pair of boots before you head out. It doesn't matter how beautiful the snowcapped Alps are if your poor ankles are a mass of blisters; all you'll care about is how much your feet hurt. Finally, it makes sense to buy good boots with both arch and ankle support, because you're going to be on your feet for a lot of miles.

You're probably beginning to suspect that these hypothetical boots, whether purchased at a Redwing store or REI, will be quite expensive. Good guess! For an excellent pair of boots that won't chew up your feet, you can expect to pay several hundred dollars. Rest assured that they'll be worth every cent when you're rubbing your tired, nice-smelling, unblistered feet at the end of a long day of hiking. After all, if you're planning to go all the way to Switzerland to hike, why skimp on hiking boots?

On the road at last!

So you're finally made it -- it's just you, your friends, your hiking backpacks and the road. What should you partake of when wandering the back roads of the Swiss cantons? Consider the possibility of ballooning in Chateau d'Oex, or checking out the natural thermal baths of Leukerbad, which are warmed in the bosom of the Earth. Then, of course, there's the Swiss National Park in eastern Switzerland, near the city of Chur. Your hiking skills will surely come in handy in the SNP, since there's no driving or riding allowed there -- all you can do is walk. And in the event that you decide to hit the trail on your own, we have it on reliable authority that there are plenty of singles along the Swiss trails (assuming, of course, you're unattached yourself!).

Published with permission (FCDMInc)