Aug 10

Maluns: A Traditional Engadine Recipe

Maluns, a simple but delicious dish, comes from the Graubünden region of southeastern Switzerland. It's a satisfying hiker's repast prepared with boiled potatoes that are grated, mixed with flour, and roasted in butter. Serve with a few slices of fresh alpine cheese and cooked apples on the side, or just... read more →
Jul 17
Hallstatt, Germany

Hallstatt Austria: Worth Its Salt

Hallstatt Our group descended into tiny Hallstatt this afternoon, a storybook village perched on the rocky shore of the Hallstätter in the Salzkammergut region of upper Austria. Hallstatt is a small town, but what it lacks in size it generously makes up for in character and sensorial stimulation. Lovingly decorated... read more →
Jun 24

Quick Tip: Dry your trekking poles.

What to do after a rainy or wet hike Pull your trekking poles apart and let everything dry following a particularly rainy hike. Performing this simple maintenance will help to prevent the barrel adjustment screw from corroding like the one in this photo. Once the screw corrodes, the barrel adjuster... read more →
Feb 18
Hikers in the Swiss Engadine

Should I Purchase Travel Insurance?

Do I Need Travel Insurance This is a question that we hear time and time again, and our most simple response is yes. Like most insurance policies, the amount of coverage that you receive is directly proportional to the amount of money that you pay for the policy. You can... read more →
Jan 16

Best Adventure Travel Company on Earth

Best Travel Companies National Geographic ADVENTURE Magazine named Ryder-Walker Alpine Adventures as "One of the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth" for a second year in a row. National Geographic surveyed hundreds of outfitters and travel companies in their February 2009 issue and scored them on Education, Sustainability, Quality of... read more →
Dec 09

Holiday Gift Ideas

Gift giving does not have to be difficult. Here are just a few ideas for the person that loves hiking and the Alps. Ryder-Walker Gift Certificate - This one should be obvious. Help that friend or relative realize their dream of hiking in the Alps. Send them on a hiking... read more →
Dec 02
Trekking poles and backpack with mountain in the background

A recipe for choosing a hiking destination in the Alps.

How to choose a hiking trip in the Alps It was once written that choosing an alpine hiking tour was a bit like choosing from a dessert cart: Everything looks wonderful! In Switzerland alone, “There are more villages worthy of hiking than there are coals in proverbial Newcastle." Some are... read more →
Nov 18

Ryder-Walker Celebrates 25 Years!

Ryder-Walker Alpine Adventures will celebrate its 25th Anniversary during the 2009-hiking season.The Telluride, CO based company will honor its 25th Anniversary with three new hiking trips for 2009. The Heart of Austria, available as guided and self-guided options, will explore the magical mountains and lakes that characterize the Salzkammergut region... read more →
Oct 27

Photo of the Week: Attending a sunrise Mass (of ice).

I have so many photos that I could actually upload a photo each day. Maybe I will. We have some other special features coming up for this fall, so we'll stick with this for now. I shot this photo along the Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica,... read more →
Sep 17

Re-entry

I've been in Switzerland for the last few weeks, and just returned during the weekend. I had a the pleasure to guide a private group of absolutely delightful individuals through the region of the Secret Swiss Valleys. Following my reentry though, I'm feeling a bit reflective. I don't mean to... read more →
Jul 30

A Decent Proposal!

Few things compare to popping the top off a favorite Swiss beverage in the heart of the region that brewed it. (Notice the label on this Appenzeller beer and compare it to the background). But one of our recent clients took things a step further. Not only did he pop... read more →
Jul 10

Switzerland Wins Two More.

It's hard to believe that UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) only recognized three World Heritage sites in Switzerland just eight years ago. Now it seems like they simply can't stop naming sites in our favorite little alpine country. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee convened in Quebec... read more →