Einsiedeln to Brunnen, 26Km
Today was not a leisurely day in Switzerland. Eveline and I set off at 8am and followed the river for some way. Ahead of us the now familiar figure of Walter came into view so we caught him up and we three continued at a comfortable pace.
Of course you can’t walk far in Switzerland before going up, and sure enough the Camino sign pointed up a path that would deliver the gradient that we were promised. Up and up we went like some nightmare roller coaster where you hold your breath until you finally reach the top after 595m. That’s about two Eiffel Towers for you Europeans or one and a half Empire State Buildings for the others.
We stopped for a cup of tea while the cows looked on approvingly because I had lemon & ginger, no milk. And then the fun started. Down we plunged, 975m in one drop towards Lake Luzern on a gravelly path with our heavy packs encouraging a catastrophic landing. Thankfully I was following Eveline and I observed her Alpine technique while she was still in sight. Out went my usual British moorland style of walking and in came an adapted Alpine downhill freestyle descent which facilitated an awkward but acceptable landing in Schwyz without my troubling the Good to Go travel insurance company.
Schwyz, you won’t know, is the global headquarters and manufacturing site of Victorinox, the firm which makes the Swiss Army knife. I’m sure you have one. Walter led us inside because they have a visitor centre and he wanted to inspect the offerings. What an amazing range of cutting implements on show! Something for every occasion. A man came over to talk to us and I produced my trusty knife from my backpack. Oh, you should have seen the joy on his face. A dear lost friend, a knife which left this place many decades ago, returning to the fold. He carefully opened it and inspected the engravings like a jeweller at Garrad & Co stumbling upon a hitherto unknown Fabergé egg. “There are many collectors”, he said, “who would pay a lot of money for such a rare old knife”. And in Switzerland, even one franc is a lot of money.
Before I go today, I must say a big thank you to Eveline who has walked with me from Konstanz and has organised everything. We met on our second day walking to Rome and we picked up where we left off in 2018. It’s been a lot of fun and the kilometres have flown by, even the ones going downhill. And hello to Beat and Eveline’s mum too.
Pilgrimage 
Hello Tim
Of course I read your blog, and I am happy about the beautiful photos and the coherently written texts. I wish you continued good hiking weather and all the best on your long hike. Eveline’s mom
Many thanks
Please do tell us more about the Alpine Technique of walking downhill. I am intrigued?
Small strides best
Has the route been deliberately designed to take you up and down ascents and descents just for the scenic views? Didn’t realise you were carrying your luggage this time.
No it’s Switzerland. Nowhere is level, even along the lakes. The luggage always comes with me except in parts of the UK. If only…
Try to get hold of one of the Swiss Navy knives, they are even rarer.
Haha but in fact Switzerland does have a Navy to patrol all the lakes. They probably use army knives
Bit concerned about you ‘freestyling’ descents Tim…we don’t want to read of any face plants! 😯
Swiss Army Knife HQ – I’d have been in heaven. Did you buy a modern contemporary for your trusty (& perhaps now ‘retired’… 😉) walking buddy? How to stop at one?…oh, that’s how…airlines don’t allow them in carry on….
Airline security must have doubled their sales