Cheese fondue on the First

Our last adventure of 2024. Deep snow, a fondue on the summit and a campfire long after sunset.

When: December 2024
Where: Fraxern, Vorarlberg
What: Winter hike with fondue
Photos: 34

Some adventures feel extra special and this was definitely one of them. On December 29th we met for our last community adventure of the year: a cheese fondue on the summit of the First, with a sunset, fresh mountain air and a cozy campfire.

To make sure everything was ready, my buddy Mathias and I hiked up the day before, carried up firewood and packed down parts of the upper trail to make the climb a little easier. With deep snow and steep sections ahead, we wanted to be as prepared as possible.

Some adventures feel extra special and this was definitely one of them.

The next day we met at 11:30 in Fraxern and after a quick gear check we started up. The lower part of the trail was relatively easy, even though it was covered in snow.

Community adventure, cheese fondue at sunset on the First above Fraxern, Vorarlberg

Despite our work the day before, the snow at the top was still deep, but at least our tracks helped a little. It was hard going, but everyone felt confident enough to push through. Step by step we reached the First after about three hours.

On the summit we set up our cheese fondue with an incredible view. As we ate, the sky turned into a sunset that painted the mountains in warm, golden tones.

When night fell we built up the fire, gathered around it and played a game while sharing stories and a lot of laughter. The atmosphere up there was something special.

Photo: @peddy.pics

It was the perfect way to end the year, with a real challenge, a huge view and great company. And it reminded me once again how good it is to step outside your comfort zone, experience nature in its purest form and share these moments with like-minded people.