The Old Schwyz Road over Ibergeregg Pass

June 15, 2017 -- Next Canton to the South of here is Canton Schwyz, home of the striking and recognizable twin mountains called the Greater and Lesser Mythen. At the foot of these hills is the town of Schwyz (same name as its Canton) and the start of our excursion: a special bus trip East along a narrow winding road over the Ibergeregg Pass (1406m) and down into the Hoch Ybrig region (popular skiing area).

As the bus neared the end of its route we got caught in a torrential downpour, and it looked like our plans for a hike were pretty well over. But the downpour was short, and the sun came out, and although that made for humid and wet walking conditions, it seemed to fit well with the soft, marshy moor landscape. The bus driver had told us this was a bit of a wet microclimate area, and promised us good weather for the day, which we had. He also told us that the trail we were hiking was called the "Old Schwyz Road" which earlier was the original thoroughfare before the current road was built.

Our actual hike started at the end of the bus ride in Oberiberg, westward uphill into the vast high moor landscape, over the same mountain pass and back down to Schwyz. Altogether we walked 13 km in just over 4 hours, as the 900m descent to Schwyz was pretty steep and somewhat slippery. As we approached the city of Schwyz, we passed South of the Greater Mythen, a popular mountain both to ascend and to paraglide from. At this close range, the rust-coloured sections high on the rock are plainly visible. This section of rock is much older than that lower down, indicating the flipping of Earth's crust as these formations were created so long ago.

On the bus ride up to Ibergeregg Pass, this is the view over the pastoral landscape of Canton Schwyz

This narrow winding road and all the stuff that fills it, makes the going rather slow for the bus.

There is a 6-km stretch of the road that is "Open Pasture", and the cows have the right of way. Here we got caught in the torrential downpour.

Our hike starts in Oberiberg, after a heavy but short downpour.

This view is eastward into the Hoch Ybrig region, a popular skiing area. The town of Oberiberg where we started is at the back. 

After an hour and 20 minutes of uphill walking we get to the Ibergeregg Pass. Our original plan was lunch at the restaurant, but dark clouds were forming behind us, and we wanted to keep ahead of them.

At the Ibergeregg Pass.

Right after the Pass, the descent starts to Schwyz and we get the first glimpse of the Greater Mythen.

Today the clouds were thick in the actual Alps, but here just North of them, we had nice weather.

West of us: Lake Lucerne and the city of Brunnen below.

  

Behind us to the East the storm clouds were looming, but we kept ahead of them.

Most of the trail back to Schwyz was through this moor landscape. (At the back is Mount Fronalpstock and the new Stoos Funicular)

The peak of the Greater Mythen. It is a challenging ascent.

The top of the Greater Mythen shows rust-coloured rock which dates much further back than the rock below it.

Some of the descent was through steep but welcoming cool forest

Finally back down in wider spaces, near Lake Lucerne.

View to the West as we emerge from the forest.

The Greater Mythen and its reddish cap. Also popular for paragliders.

 

The city of Schwyz, the end point of our hike (bottom left is the public high school).

13 km from Oberiberg, over the Ibergeregg Pass, to Schwyz.

We rode the bus from Schwyz to Oberiberg, then walked back.