My second day of hiking in Switzerland was a stark difference in weather than my first day. There wasn’t a rain cloud in sight, and the sun was shining so bright I was anticipating a sunburn. Thankfully my days of willingly scorching my skin are a thing of orange skinned past, and these days I lather myself with sunscreen, wear long sleeves, and hats.
Hi my name is Brittany, and I’ve become my father.
OK, so my head got hot and I took my hat off for a bit.
We were planning to leave Appenzell around 2 in the afternoon, which left a few hours for a smaller hike. We took a different trail than the previous day, but ended up back at Seealpsee, the magical alpine lake. I was happy to see the lake on a sunny day, and the trail we took to get there was absolutely mind blowing.
Each corner we walked around provided a different view, and each one was better than the last. We passed by a house about 40 minutes up the mountain selling fresh milk and butter. The house had goats, chickens, and a proud guard dog out front. The goats ended up running across the path to eat the grass and we stood with them for a good ten minutes watching them eat.
The trail to the lake also had cows galore, and we discovered how to walk through the electric fences without shocking ourselves. And by we, I mean me. Despite the fact that I don’t normally hike well in heat, I felt really good after about 30 minutes on this hike. I was purging toxins out of my sweat like it was my job, and I was full of energy. For someone that struggles with fatigue, whenever I feel great it’s almost worthy of tears.
Dramatic.
The cows, the hills, the mountains, and the solidarity of Appenzell had me lusting for a life in Switzerland. Near the lake there was a house, and as I walked by a man came out and waved to me. I imagined what it would be like to live on that piece of land with cows, my cat, and my transplanted Irish/or Scottish husband.
After we found our way to the lake, we walked the entire circumference before starting our descent back to the car. The reflection of the mountains on the water looked like something out of a Thomas Kinkade photo.
It’s been almost a month since my trip to Switzerland, and it still holds the top spot of any place I’ve been thus far. I will surely be back, and while I’d like to visit the bigger cities, I want to spend more time in the quiet mountain towns. What I love about hiking is that I can shut my brain off. It’s very meditative, and all my unrealistic thoughts fade away.
I’m realizing lately I no longer enjoy hiking alone as much. My parents are going to love reading that, but ultimately I am finding that sharing a hike with someone I enjoy spending time with makes the hike that much more enjoyable. I started hiking alone because I didn’t want to wait for others, or because I didn’t want to sit around just because no one wanted to go, but then I kept hiking alone because I liked going at my own pace.
I still very much need my solo hikes at times, and going at my own pace is unbeatable, but after hiking at my own pace, but WITH other people on this Switzerland trip I realized there are other options for an enjoyable time with others. Basically I’m turning soft and all my posts for the next while are going to be related to needing human interaction.
Whod’a thunk.
I guess I’m not so dead inside after all, I just need to find the right people to spend my time with. Life has a funny way of showing us things we need when we are ready to see them. Big thanks to my roommate for an amazing weekend getaway that I still daydream about, I can’t wait to see where we go next! Until then, enjoy this AWESOME short video my roommate made of part of our trip. (0:22-0:27 are from Liechtenstein.)
I don’t think I make a normal face once in this video. LOL.
Q: Do you prefer hiking alone, with others, or with others but at your own pace? Big fan of with others but at my own pace, although sometimes I can’t let go of feeling like I’m too slow. Alas, the right people won’t care. ❤
Blissfulbritt 
18 thoughts on “Appenzell, Switzerland – Pt. 2”
rootchopper
There are merits to both but biking or hiking with others works only when you each go at your own pace. I’ve found that the most meditative part of biking or hiking is when you are going uphill. You are constantly paying attention to your breath and to the stress on your body until you find the rhythm that matches the climb. Very om-ey.
Brittany
VERY om-ey! It’s amazing.
Amy
Oh my gosh!! I had COMPLETELY forgotten about the Switzerland water!! And how you can literally drink straight from the fountains. I didn’t try it (I wasn’t brave enough!), but when we did our big band trip through Europe, some of my friends were brave enough to fill their entire water bottles with the fountain water before we headed off on an all-day adventure. The little clip from the video reminded me! 🤓
Your caption about your head getting hot and taking off your head made me laugh too… My dad is heading off on a big long backpacking trip this weekend, and he bought a hat with a zipper top. So he can unzip the top and expose his hair to the air whenever he gets too hot. 😂
And finally… I just bought a new Thomas Kinkade puzzle over the weekend! The style of your photo of the lake looks just like all of his work — it’s so true! 🙌🏻
Brittany
Yassss I love this comment so much! The water was everywhere, I didn’t drink it, but I would have! My bottle was just full hahah.
Your dads hat sounds awesome! As does your new puzzle. I adore Thomas Kinkade, such talent.
EricMWalk
Wow those photos and landscape is amazing. What a great location to take a hike around. As for me I guess I like both Solo and with others. Each gives me something different in the end as sometimes it is great to have company and other times you just need to think things through.
Brittany
I completely agree with your answer!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
So um… You know me and hiking. BUT SHIT – Appensell is friggin’ STUNNING and you know I would go hiking with you here (cause I mean, you’re ITCHING for that human interaction now, LOL)… ALSO um, so, you need to start making YouTube videos. I want to see that “NON NORMAL” face via video on the weekly… Oh wait, maybe that’s what Marco Polo is for? lol
Brittany
Bahaha I still owe you a Marco Polo, but honestly I would be an awesome Youtuber I just don’t have savvy editing skills hahaha.
Pam
Isn’t it amazing how the clock slows down and time comes as close as it can to stopping when you are out on your own on a hike…,
Add in another person and time becomes relevant once again, either by speeding up or slowing down👣👣👣
Living fondly through your adventures
Enjoying the ride 😊🙏
Brittany
I just love getting lost in the mountains! Not literally, but mentally!
gpavants
Hi Brittney,
Fun, fun, fun. The video was great. It adds some pretty awesome layers to your adventure. I totally understand about waiting for people to hike with. Yet, that is Rule #1 about hiking: Don’t hike alone. But it’s better to be safe and bond with others.
Thank you,
Gary
Brittany
My dad would agree with you on this rude, however I often defy it. I’m getting better about going with others though!
stateeats
OMG, that video, so cuuute! – Kat
Brittany
I loved it!! So fun.
sligo101
Dear Brit,
Thank you for sending. How I admire your great adventure! Now enjoy and guide Dad on his trip.
Love ye,
Papa
Brittany
Thank you Papa!
Reanna Clark
Amazing! I need to book a ticket to Switzerland ASAP. I love hiking with my partner, as hiking alone freaks me out a little bit. However it can be so calmjng as well to have that solo space outdoors.
Brittany
Goooo to Switzerland. Go, go, go!