From Fischenthal to Bauma in the Zurich Oberland, and Peacocks!

(This post was published on November 3, 2023)

Saturday April 30, 2016 -- Finally, a nice spring day after a long cold period. Actually it was supposed to be bad weather, so it was definitely a surprise to wake up to sun and blue skies. We took advantage of this and traveled less far to get in as much of the day as possible by the time the bad weather moved in late afternoon. 

This area East of Lake Zurich is called the Zurich Oberland and consists of loads of rolling hills and the walking was not strenuous. We started in a village called Fischenthal and ended in Bauma where there is an old railroad storage hall (originally located in Basel in the 1800's and ultimately transported to this location). The highlight of the outing was the restaurant where we stopped for coffee (Sunnehof), which is actually a family-run farm, where they had the largest flock of peacocks (it's called an "ostentation") that I've ever seen, and they gave us some great displays of their amazing tail feathers!

On our way to the starting point of our hike, we get some nice views of the snow-covered mountains to the south

Our hike starts in the village of Fischenthal, which is in the region between Zurich and the Toggenburg. We started here at about 10:30 

As we climb up the hill, we still get a view of the mountains in the south

A lovely place for our picnic lunch!

The first section of the hike was uphill to the restaurant called Sunnenhof where we stopped for a cup of coffee and to admire the fabulous peacocks. (We took a shortcut through a meadow, and made it to Sunnenhof in 1 hr. 20 minutes). From there it was mostly downhill toward Bauma, with a very nice section near a waterfall 

At the Sunnenhof farm, looking for a good place to sit to enjoy a cup of coffee. 

This peacock is showing off his fantastic feathers from both the front and back!

One of nature's many marvels: The colour and detail of peacocks' tail feathers... 

These are the peahens whom the peacocks are trying to impress!

Of course, there is a lot of peacock noise as well!

A beautiful blue colour, and what is with the small crown of feathers on top of everything else?

VIDEO:

A peacock trying to impress the peahens, but also showing off to the other peacocks!

The time provided for getting to Bauma is too tight. At minimum one hour. We took the alternate trail through the Lochbachtobel Ravine, and that was 90 minutes. 

Enjoying the mild Spring air, finally!

The rolling hills of the Zurich Oberland

Following the soft grassy trails in this undulating landscape

And now we descend into a small ravine called the Lochbachtobel

This set of stairs was quite special!

This kind of trail is really interesting, with so many different landscapes to admire!

The waterfall in the Lochbachtobel

The old train hall built in the 1800's that used to be in Basel, and now serves as an outdoor train museum in Bauma.

A fun old train wagon!

What our hike looks like on Google Maps

Location of Fischenthal and Bauma in Switzerland

Hike in the Maggia Valley from Maggia to Ponte Brolla

(This post was published on Oct.30, 2023)

Wednesday April 27, 2016 -- Spring keeps poking its head out here for a day each week or so, and then winter comes back: Cold, rain, and this week even a dump of snow. South of the Alps in the side valleys we had beautiful sunshine, all the clouds having been blown out by a chilly North wind. But along the mountain side and through the woods where it was windstill, it was perfect for walking. The 10-km hike started in the town of Maggia along the Maggia River and we headed out of the valley along the river to Ponte Brolla near Locarno. On the way we visited the little village of Avegno, where there are several "Grottos" (Restaurants serving local food) where we had a fabulous lunch of grilled pork ribs! Yum....

North of the Alps we had snow right down to the flat lands.

North of the Alps we had snow right down to the flat lands. This is very late in the season as the trees have actually finished blossoming. 

Heading down the Reuss Valley, even more snow as we get to higher elevations north of the Gotthard Tunnel. 

South of the Alps in the side valleys we had perfect cloudless skies but a chilly North wind. Here we are heading into the Maggia Valley by bus from Locarno. 

We started in the village of Maggia at 10:30, and walked 10 kilometers out of the Maggia Valley, where we caught the train in Ponte Brolla at 15:45

Start of the hike in the town of Maggia, we cross the first suspension bridge over the Maggia River. It took us about 3½ hours of travel time to get here.  

A look down the Maggia River as we cross the suspension bridge. 

Suspension bridge over the Maggia River.

VIDEO:

The lovely waters of the Maggia River

Heading South parallel to the Maggia River we pass through a handful of typical Ticinese villages. This one is called Moghegno, with the beautiful tower of the "Chiesa della Beata Vergine Assunta"

Some nice details on the houses in these lovely villages

We've come 20 minutes from Maggia, and are headed to Avegno, a 2-hour walk from here. 

This fountain dates from 1803.

The alleyways of Moghegno

This is not a Ticinese structure. This is the kind of houses they built in Canton Valais. The post/stone supports are called mushrooms.

Continuing south parallel to the Maggia River. In the background is Moghegno. 

The trail passes several vineyards

Very typical for Canton Ticino are the many narrow paths between these dry-stone walls. 

Along the way from Maggia to Ponte Brolla we came across a pretty waterfall, which is from the river "Ri di dentro". 

The waterfall

These clear pools are always a treat. This one is especially pretty.

These palm trees do well in the warmer climate of Canton Ticino. They can withstand temperatures of up to -10⁰ Celcius

Many of the houses display artwork called frescoes

This next village is called Aurigeno

Village of Aurigeno

Village of Aurigeno

Chiesa di San Bartolomeo in Aurigeno

A very nice house!

We then had a long stretch through the forest.

After the long stretch through the forest, we had a bit of a climb as there was no trail anymore at river level. This is the view back up the Maggia Valley toward the town of Maggia in the center. 

And a view down the valley toward Avegno.

Back down at river level we cross the Maggia River on a wonderful suspension bridge. The passage we descended from is just above the tree-tops to the right of center of the photo. (It wasn't really a high climb). 

The suspension bridge at Avegno

This is the little restaurant "Grotto al Bosco"(= "Restaurant in the Woods") where we stopped for lunch

Lunch in "Grotto al Bosco", Ticinese pork ribs cooked on the grill.

The view out of our restaurant window!

Before continuing on our hike, we walked around the streets and alleyways of Avegno. 

Checking out the lovely village of Avegno after our lunch

The end of our hike will be in Ponte Brolla, 45 minutes from here. 

What a beautiful wisteria

The stone construction of these villages is so interesting, the houses never are boring to look at. 

Back out of the valley, this is where the Maggia River joins the Melezza River before heading into Lago Maggiore.

Approach of one of the older Centovalli Trains (two of the newer ones ran into each other the week before) at the Ponte Brolla train station.

The Melezza River from Centovalli on its way to Lago Maggiore. We are on the way to Locarno, where we catch another train home. 

10 km hike, 3.5 hours, from Maggia along the Maggia River to Ponte Brolla.