The mountain behind me is the Bettmerhorn which I just walked down from. I saw many hikers who were heading up there. Unlike me, non-Japanese people tend to follow the entire hiking route on foot. Usually I take a cableway up and hike down, so I think that they really love a tough hike and they have an overflowing amount of energy! Just by glancing at the top of the mountain, I know it's going to be a tough climb and it always make me lose my energy before even taking a step up the mountain.

The end of the glacier gradually came into sight in the distance. While looking at the glacier, I kept on walking toward Moosfluh station with my back to Bettmerhorn.

It's time for lunch! Whenever I have a meal during a hike, even bread that costs only 1 CHF from a regular supermarket and a bottle of water feels like they are more delicious than usual after some exercise!

I found a golden mushroom at the side of a hiking path. It reminded me of the way an item appears in a video game! Actually, I really wanted to put my mascot on the mushroom and take a picture. However I had no choice but to give up as the mushroom had grown in the middle of a cattle's dropping!!
By the way, as I didn't want to show you a nasty sight, I blurred out the droppings in this photo as it had so much impact I worried it would give you a shock!

I managed to arrive at Moosfluh station. It was hard work walking along the rugged path to get here. But on the other hand, the clouds were still hanging low in the sky and I was worried about the weather....

From here, I continued to walk along a ridge path leading to Hohfluh.
By the way, it's said on the hiking signs that it takes 1hr25min to get to Bettmerhorn station. To walk back up the opposite way, which I just climbed down, within 1hr25min is absolutely impossible if you ask me! The estimated times on hiking signs are nothing but lies!!

The path to Hohfluh was a little bit like this and it was mostly downhill from Moosfluh station. It's an easy stroll.
When Hohfluh station came into view, I changed my mind and changed my course, heading towards Aletschwald(Aletsch Forest) instead.

The Aletsch Forest is located right next to the end of the glacier and it's a nature reserve. There is a dense growth of the oldest kind of trees in Switzerland. It is a deep forest area which is home to many unique plants and animals .

A strange view spreads out in a spot just a short distance away from the end of the glacier. It looks that area is changing back into a thicker forest.

The forest has a number of hiking trails, but the trail which is around a 2hr walk that goes around the edge of the middle of the forest is popular. I didn't have much time so I walked along the edge of the forest and enjoyed just the exterior of the forest. I intended to explore the forest more thoroughly yesterday, but I couldn't due to the bad weather....It was very unfortunate!

I arrived at Riederfurka which can be reached on foot within 20 minutes from Riederalp.

Time for a beer break!
The low hanging clouds were gone and it seemed like the weather would be better tomorrow.

On the way to Riederalp from Riederfurka, I felt the presence of an animal once more.
"There it is! It's there! It's there! There's a marmot on the slope!"
It was a surprise that they live in such close proximity to humans!

I arrived in Riederalp.

I had some free time so I thought I'd take photos to show you the way to get to my hotel where I had stayed.
When you go out of Riederalp West station, follow the street with the valley to your right. The street is well-paved and it's easy to walk while rolling your suitcase along with you.

After 250 steps from the station, there is the signboard of a hotel along the roadside.

I arrived at my hotel. A statue of the Alpine ibex in front of the gate is a landmark of this hotel.
Ibexes have long-curved horns and they are one of the most famous animal in the Swiss Alps. There was a sharp decrease in the number of ibexes due to overhunting and I heard that they were on the brink of extinction at one point. People say that it isn't unusual to see a marmot during a hike, but ibex are not seen frequently even in the Swiss Alps. In fact, I'm yet to see an ibex, but I want to see one someday!

I ordered spaghetti Bolognese and a mixed salad for dinner. The menu said "small-sized salad" but it wasn't small at all....

Tomorrow is the last day of hiking o this trip and I really hope that the weather will be nice!