This weekend, I went with the Aumonerie to Grand St. Bernard for a weekend of snowshoeing. I felt like I was in a winter survival movie because there was litte visibility and the snow covered our entire line of sight. It was truly an amazing experience to see the mountains and learn about the area's history.
We stayed overnight in a hospice at the top of the mountain, where they provide food and shelter for free for passerby. Their motto is to welcome and nourish, and it was wonderful to arrive to a warm, castle-like building with small food nooks and bowls for hot tea.
We passed the time playing Jungle Speed and cribbage, and we visited the museum that talked about times from the Middle Ages and ancient tools and equipment used to traverse the dangerous mountain area. They also talked about the origin of the St. Bernard and the dog's role in helping sniff out the travel path after a new-fallen snow. This was a wonderful chance to spend sometime outdoors doing winter sports, a common pasttime (or, rather, obsession) for the Swiss. As the months pass, I am constantly amazed at how much culture the Swiss have to share.
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