Through the Alps, in the Footsteps of Tolkien

In the summer of 1911, a young J.R.R. Tolkien journeyed through the Swiss Alps, where the majestic peaks of the Matterhorn, the enchanting Rosenlau Valley, and the rolling green countryside left an impression upon his imagination. Travelling on foot, he discovered a world where mountains, forests, meadows, and rivers were bound together in a delicate harmony, each providing shelter and passage to countless living creatures. The meadows were not merely fields of green, but homes to many species; the forests served as pathways for wildlife, and the winds carried seeds from one valley to another, weaving the tapestry of life. Even today, we must preserve these ancient connections, allowing nature to flourish undisturbed by roads and other human barriers. And perhaps, as Tolkien himself once wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost.” For it is by wandering slowly, whether on foot, by bicycle, or aboard a humble train, that we may truly behold the wonders of the Alps, meet the people who dwell among them, and learn that the journey is not ours alone, but belongs to all living things that call these mountains home.

~ Maja Fister