41 years ago, at 6 years old, I climbed across a glacier holding onto my grandmother’s hand to reach the Forno Hut. It is located in a stunning little corner of the Swiss Alps known as the Engadine region. Since then, I have been hanging on a 6-year old’s memories of sleeping in a bunk room with strangers and having to cross a wide expanse of granite in the middle of the night, again holding my grandmother’s hand, to go pee in the outhouse perched above the hut. Last week, after 41 years, with my 10-year old son and husband in tow, I made good on my dream of making it back to the Forno.

Starting out from the town of Maloja.

A send off from Bessie, with her bell clanging.

Heading up the high meadow below the glacier.

Looking at the moraine just below the glacier.

Always follow the red and white markings!

First look at the glacier. I’m told that it has receded by an elevation of 200 meters since I was here last.

Icy water full of sediment.

Navigating a very steep ascent. Forno glacier below and to the right.

Made it!

Morning light.

Bunk room. To my pleasant surprise, the WC is now located within the hut.

Descent.

A welcome and gorgeous plate of food back in Maloja.