This day more fun on the funicular, as we returned to the high country, but this time we stayed on the main trail to Zinal. An interesting path, and by the way the one taken by the runners days ago, it wanders past all the planets in the solar system, at light speed! You all knew that Lynn's legs are now steel, however traveling the speed of light wasn't expected. The planets are placed along the trail in relative actual size with natural spacing that requires the walker about the same time to get from one to the next as it would take a beam of light.  Also, we passed the 100+ year old Weisshorn Hotel overlooking the town of St Luc and the grandeur of the valley; a grand old lady, three stories high, remote, accessible only by four wheel drive truck, she's filled with old stuff, and, completely booked for the night! After the hotel the trail continued up around the mountain that obscures the full view of the Imperial Crown (previously referred to as the Five Crowns, erroneously), providing more, then more complete views until finally there it was, looking straight up the valley - The Imperial Crown! After some time to enjoy we proceeded down (and I mean down, if the angle were to be increased a rope would be needed) the trail to Zinal. At the bottom in Zinal we noticed a walker coming down just behind us with an interesting gizmo on his boot; it was a 1 inch slab of sponge rubber on the bottom of the front of his boot - under the ball of his foot - to absorb the shock on the feet from such a steep decline - we surmised. Sure wished we had had some on our boots!
Sadly Lynn has a sore throat, now taking Cipro, so today we limited our walk to 3 hours up and down the path leading up to the glaciers of The Imperial Crown. The grandeur palpable, the views splendiferous, accompanied by the sound of rushing water, and the bells of grazing moo cows we wandered with enchantment only slightly hindered by the concerns of the symptomatic possibilities of a sore throat. Now we have finally enjoyed the local fare, the famous Swiss and artery hardening raclette. This fine dish is prepared by putting a half wheel of raclette cheese under a heat source, then scrapeing the molten cheese onto a plate - that's it, the raclette is ready to serve. Accompaniments include: potatoe, pickle, onion, and various cold cuts. The raclette lady (a elderly lady focused on keeping your plate filled with raclette) visited our table perhaps a dozen times before we finally threw in the proverbial towel, or was it cheese cloth. It's great to have a blessed life.