The scene was set. It’s Sanna’s 27th birthday and we planned on spending a day gallivanting around the snow and the slopes of Andermatt in central Switzerland.

I packed my full winter hiking pack in the car and collected Sanna and Miriam from the train station. It was still early in the morning and the grey clouds lay dark on the horizon as we snaked along the highway for an hour to reach our destination.

This was my first time in Andermatt; it is a mountain village very popular in the winter season due to its idyllic ski slopes. Today, its snowcapped chalets are soaked in sunlight. Our hiking path begins with a meander through the picturesque Swiss town. 

Picking our picnic spot

We picked the trail leading to Nätschen and spent four-and-half kilometres climbing the southern slope. We dodged skiers, sledders and snowboarders hissing down the hill until we finally spotted our point: an abandoned stone hut. Sanna, Miriam and I cosied up to the wall and got to work.

Making the Banana Flapjack Birthday Cake

Since we are here to celebrate Sanna’s birthday, we couldn’t forego the tradition of birthday cake. Instead of bringing one with us, we decided to make our own right here in the mountains. Here’s the recipe for you to use next time you’re celebrating something in the wild.

Ingredients:

• 2 Bananas

• 2 cups of oats

• 2 cups of plant-based milk (or regular milk)

• a fresh assortment of berries

• coconut oil

• Nutella

• cream cheese frosting

Method:

1. I mixed the pancake batter at home, quickly blending the oats, bananas and milk together and carrying it up in a Tupperware.

2. On the mountain, we greased a pan with coconut oil to make the flapjacks. The mix normally makes 8 large flapjacks.

3. In a separate pot, we warmed some coconut oil and fresh berries. At home, I would add cinnamon and a dash of sugar for taste, but in the outdoors everything always tastes better.

4. Begin stacking the flapjacks, filling each alternate layer with berry compote and Nutella. Finish with a cream cheese flourish and decorate with some freshly cut fruit or berries. Voila!

Ending the day with Coffee and Cava

After the sugar rush from the decadent birthday treat, we passed the rest of the afternoon by lying in the sun. In a festive style, we even had some sparkling wine.

A day spent in the mountains can’t go without making some coffee. I fetched the fresh coffee I had ground in the morning and prepared the Moka pot. After two strikes with the fire starter kit on the gas stove, we soon heard the gentle sputtering of our coffee brewing.

We sipped the coffee, watching the beautiful landscape unfold around us as the clouds rolled in. In true Swiss fashion, even a train chugs by the horizon. None of us felt anything but grateful for the natural world we are gifted.

The walk down

The sky grew dark and thick, signalling time for the descent. Bags were packed, waste collected and with both light and heavy hearts, we returned down our mountain path, coaxed by the gentle snowfall.

It is always hard to return back to reality after a full day spent out in nature. We pass a full day outside, soaking up the sun and the wild, bathing in the elements. Then you can return to home office feeling rejuvenated. All the more reason to take time every day to step out and appreciate Mother Nature.