In honor of my Birthday the Swiss Weather Gods said unto the Swiss Weather Lookers,

"He’ll no doubt want to take the day off for his birthday and climb the mountains around Zurich.  This can not be allowed as he needs to write his dissertation."

It’s been snowing in Zurich every day or night since Monday, and will probably continue until Saturday.  The Avalanche Warning in the mountains around Zurich is a nice 4 out of a possible 5, and the highest I’ve seen around here.  So it was for sure the right decision that I took off work last Friday to snowshoe above Kandersteg.