Words & Photography by Mercedes Catalan
Vals is a small, dreamy village in Switzerland’s Canton Graubunden. It sits in a deep valley surrounded by green mountains, forests and farms. It is a village known for its water (home to Valser, one of the most famous mineral waters in Switzerland) and thermal baths (like the stunning 7132 Therme, designed by Peter Zumthor), and despite boasting a two Michelin star restaurant (7132 Silver), Vals remains quiet and peaceful, even in summer, making it an ideal escape for city-dwellers craving the calm of nature. Somehow though, its still feels like a bit of a secret. Indeed, on many of my hikes, I found myself alone for hours, only crossing paths with the occasional farmer or village local.
I took these photos during three different hikes. The first day we walked around Zervreilasee, or Zervreila Lake, a reservoir found at 1,862 metres above the sea level and surrounded by impressive mountains of more than 3,000 metres. We walked around the lake, admiring the reflections of the Zervreilahorn, the very sharp peak that is nicknamed ‘the Matterhorn of Graubunden’. It was a beautiful day walking along the water. The alpine flowers were in full bloom, specially the alpenrose, and butterflies were fluttering around us while we trekked.
The second day I started walking also at Zervreilasee, but I went higher following the ‘Drei Seen Wanderung’ (The Trail of the Three Lakes). This day we walked higher and longer and encountered all kinds of weather - patches of snow, a hailstorm, fog, sun and heat. We met many marmots along the way and enjoyed watching them play in the sun in meadows full of flowers. There were also alpine farms, and curious cows aplenty, and we bought slices of alpine cheese directly from farmers. Towards the end of the hike, we meet around 200 goats while they were wandering - as they do every day - from the alpine pastures to their farm.
The third day was a very foggy one. We wanted to hike to the mountain pass of Patnaulpass and, from there, to Faltschonhorn if the weather allowed us (it didn't). This was a harder hike, and the entire day was spent mostly in fog, but the views when the clouds opened for fleeting moments were truly beautiful. For me, these images are a reminder of how wonderful it will be when we can once again return to the hills.
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