After last week’s opening episode of the Glacier Express, the Holden crew head on to their second stop along the route – Fiesch – the hometown of photographer Silvano Zeiter. Along with Swiss-knife Fredi Kalbermatten and adventure filmmaker Gray Thompson, the boys swap the solids for splits and, in this episode, venture a little further off the beaten track.
Despite being dealt a poor hand from mother nature on the first day, the trio persisted and lined up a split mission for the following morning. The gamble paid off. They not only scored clear skies and fresh snow but continued to keep the theme of ‘alternative transport through the mountains’ going strong when they passed through the underside of one mountain on foot. As Gray says: “Only in the Alps will you find a tunnel, in the side of the mountain, that takes you to another side of the mountain.”
“The boys swap the solids for splits and, in this episode, venture a little further off the beaten track”
Travelling from Zermatt to St. Moritz on the world’s most scenic railway, the Glacier Express, the film follows the trio as they explore pristine valleys, towering peaks and the fabled Swiss mountain towns in their new five-part series.
The Glacier Express train has been in service since 1930. It passes over 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and 281-kilometres as it journeys through the heart of the Swiss Alps. The route was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 for its engineering, architecture, and unity with the landscape. For ardent explorers and casual vacationers alike, this incredible journey has something for everyone.
“The route was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 for its engineering, architecture, and unity with the landscape”
Like every Swiss local, Fredi’s usual mode of transport is by train. Last season, he finally had the chance to ride the lines he’d been scoping from the window on all those journeys:
“I always wanted to go explore the area. For many years, my winter travel schedule was too busy to allow such a trip. But now I am a father, and I like to stay a bit closer to home when I can. Switzerland has so much to offer, I could explore it forever. The Glacier Express stops at really cool resorts, so we made a pitch to Swiss Tourism and they were really down with the idea of it.”
If you missed it, you can catch Episode 1 here.
Stay tuned for Episode 3 of the Glacier Express, dropping next week.
