What is beautiful about Switzerland is the unpredictable weather; one cannot just copy/paste the weather conditions from previous years and predict them for the current one.

For example, last year at around the same period of time, I was happily snow-shoeing. This year, I’m still happily exploring the mountains, but on the mountain bike, bare legs and with a t-shirt; almost 18°C at 1800m high!

Of course, this particularly hot and dry year as negative impacts on Nature, at least from our human point of view. The rivers and lakes, for instance, have a very low level (when there is still water).

Wolf's pass, Jaun.

Wolf’s pass, Jaun.

As the cows and their ringing bells are off the pastures, there is nothing but a deafening silence.

Gastlosen, Jaun.

Gastlosen, Jaun.

The downhill were done at a ridiculous slow pace, to avoid crashing as I was looking at the mountains most of the time.

Jaun, Switzerland.

Jaun, Switzerland.

The tour started at around 900m high, followed by a climb up to 1800m then I would wander for 20km at this altitude.

Jaun, Switzerland.

Jaun, Switzerland.

Once on the “plateau”, it was a paradise of single tracks, neither too easy nor technical.

Jaun, Switzerland.

Jaun, Switzerland.

Unfortunately, the evening before the ride, I started a migraine with focal aura (if you don’t know what it is, be grateful). When I was riding downhill, the shocks felt like my brain was being played football with.

Jaunpass, Switzerland.

Jaunpass, Switzerland.

As the way back home went through a ski resort, it was funny to look at the barracks and small huts prepared for the winter; with signs like “stay on the tracks”, “buy tickets here”, “first aid here”, “snow bar” and so on. All of this in the middle of grass fields with 17°C temperature.

I feel very grateful for these free days.