Above the clouds

Mittelallalin, Switzerland

By Julia Revitt Photography

September 2^nd, 2016

I've long wanted to stand above the clouds. It's one of those bucket list things which depended on being in the right place at the right time. One Friday morning during a road trip across Switzerland, I found myself in Saas Fee, looking out of the hotel window wondering if this was the day. I was nervous and couldn't eat my croissant, which was a sign that something great was about to happen. Swallowing down the last of my coffee, I left the hotel with my pass in hand and heart in my mouth to start the adventure.

It started with a lovely walk across the car free village of Saas Fee to the lift station, then the Alpin Express cable car takes you up and over the village of Saas Fee to the first lift station. From there on it's a second cable car and then funicular train to take you through a tunnel at a rather jaunty angle until you pop out into the bright light at 3456m on the Mittelallalin.

Once outside, I was greeted with a view of mountains, peaks, glaciers and clouds. My breath was literally taken away. There was a new view in every direction and I didn't know where to look first. The clouds were constantly changing and were memorising to watch. The wind was biting cold but the sun was burning hot. I felt alive!

I walked around to the back of the lift station/restaurant building and found this Air Zermatt helicopter sitting on a snowy precipice. I was just marvelling at the piloting skills it must have taken to land there when the pilot came out of the building. He told me to hold onto my hat as it was going to get windy. A few seconds later the helicopter lifted off over my head and dived into the valley. I always find helicopters exhilarating to watch and this encounter was no different.

Standing above the clouds was a wonderful feeling. They appear liquid and act like waves, constantly moving and morphing shape. It was quite a sight and something I'll never forget - which I guess is the point of bucket lists.