Posts by
Troy Haines

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...

"This is not worth it... we have to turn around."  I'm stopped on a steep trail part-way to the remote Berghotel Obersteinberg, and this is what I'm thinking.  I'm carrying two packs because my 13 year old daughter has been complaining of searing pain in her achilles since about thirty seconds into the hike.  Unfortunately, my solution has upset the...

There are many elements of a hotel that make it a good one, and there are certainly plenty of good ones to be found in the Alps.  It might be the gourmet restaurant, the superb wine selection, the panoramic view, etc... Whatever it is, combine a few of these elements in the same place and you’ve likely got yourself a...

You've heard about Hotel Obersteinberg, the wonderfully authentic mountain inn perched high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Like a fairy tale combination of mountains, waterfalls, flowers and cows, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is a gem within a gem. This deeply carved gorge was J.R.R. Tolkein’s inspiration for Rivendell, based on a hiking tour he took here as a young man. So how...