It's Christmas day and we hear the calling of our Christbaum (Christmas Tree) up in the woods of Klewenalp. We take the cable car up to Klewenalp station and head out on our pilgrimage. 

I have a walking stick (courtesy Armand) carved out of a beech tree last night, but with slippery icy patches on the slopes, I'm really regretting not bringing my spikes. The other three are happily skipping along like a walk in the park while i'm having to watch every step. They ask me to stop thinking & just feel the snow underneath, but fear finds me frozen on the slopes more often than not. I still can't help admiring the pristine beauty of the alpine panorama.. the snow highlighting each curve of the mountains. 

Finally we're at the Tree.. Yippee!! I manage to smile :)

Happy to find all the decorations still in place after four winters. Too bad there's no snow on the tree. Well, one can't have it all! We add a couple of ornaments, light the candle, offer our prayers and then it's Glühwein, Basler-läckerli and Chocolate time... 

We bid Goodbye to our tree and continue to Stockhütte. After the Glühwein, I find it easier on walk down the slopes.. I'm also brave to skate a li'l.. well just a li'l. Hmmm.. alcohol seems to help not just my Deutsch but also my rattling bones (fears)!! Definitely calls for a BIG Danke to the creators of Glühwein..

As we arrive back in Beckenried with the Postbus, we witness the Full Moon Rising from behind Mythen peak..

The reflection in the water almost creating a mesmerising path all the way upto the Moon... Nicht Wahr??

Or is it the Glühwein????????