Posts by
Troy Haines

[caption id="attachment_20184" align="alignnone" width="770"] Cows graze on a steep hillside above the Lauterbrunnen Valley with Schmadribach Falls in the background.[/caption] As a traveler hiking through the Swiss Alps, you soon discover the many small farms dotting little meadows high in the mountains. Semi-vertical fields step up the hillsides toward centuries-old huts and barns. Small groups of cows graze and farming...

"Early morning is the sweetest time of day, any day. That's when your senses are keenest, your mind liveliest, your heart most alive and hopeful" - Edward Abbey No matter what you think of Ed Abbey, he got some things right. Early morning is the best, most enriching part of the day. Plus, you get popular hikes all to yourself....

We understand the importance of physical and mental preparedness when it comes to enjoying your adventures in the Alps.  To put some resources at your fingertips, we’ve teamed up with Becki Rupp from Trailblazer Wellness to explore how a personal trainer can help you get trail ready. In this series, we’ll explore a number of topics ranging from injury prevention...

Switzerland has the best bread in the World.  There, I've said it.  Switzerland gets credit for doing a lot of things well, like chocolate, cheese, watches, and efficient transportation.  But they don't get enough credit for their bread. As a former baker, and long-time admirer of Swiss bread, I think it's time we drew some attention to this. Keep reading...

The Best Breakfast in the Alps When I imagine my favorite Alpine breakfast, my daydreams always take me to the Hotel Europe in Zermatt.  This happens often, and it's no small praise.  Many of our hotels have wonderful breakfast spreads... most, in fact.  But the Hotel Europe earns a spot in the very top tier.  It might be the bright...

Sidney Haines, age 13 at the time of writing, has been visiting the Alps with her family, the founders and owners of Alpinehikers, almost every summer since she was a baby. These are her reflections on her 2019 summer trip. Sometimes I can’t keep up with my own mind. My thoughts remain concentrated on what’s in front of me, the...