In and out of the Erstfelder Valley

Three hikes in four days, and each a bit different than the rest....

August 16, 2017 -- Wednesday, our day off. We decided to discover a new valley close to where we live. Another side valley off the Reuss Valley. It was wild and the trail was barely 20-30 cm wide and very steep for most of the way into the valley, and the rain we'd had every evening for the last few days made walking difficult on the slippery larch needles and rocks that covered the trail. This kind of trail would cause us little problem in dry conditions, but on this day we had to be very careful...

So we just went very slowly. And the effort was so worth it, as we emerged from the forest into the back of the valley, with its steep jagged peaks and waterfalls, glacier and glacier river, alpine meadows and houses built to withstand avalanches, and even a herb garden and little self-serve outdoor curio cabinet where we purchased a little jar of AlpRose honey.

And best part was, the excursion started with one of those fun cable cars yet again (our plan is to try them all out) to cover the steep height. To return to the Reuss Valley, we walked back out of the Erstfelder Valley parallel to the river, right down to where it stunningly flows into the Reuss River, its milky glacier waters markedly separating from the blue waters of the Reuss River.

Another unique cable car, of which there are many in Canton Uri. You have to phone up to the operator to get a ride.

View into the Reuss Valley and Schächen Valley from above Erstfeld.

Reuss River at Erstfeld, where the longest train tunnel in the world enters the mountains.

Up here lives the elderly lady, the operator of the Wilerli cable car. It runs all year, even in winter.

Our 9 km hike took us to the back of the Erstfeld Valley along a very narrow forest path on a steep mountain flank, and then down and out the other side.

The narrow forest trail was very slippery after the rains we had had.

Emerging from the forest, these steep hillsides are simply stunning.

Looking West into the Erstfeld Valley

Looking East out of the Erstfeld Valley toward the Reuss Valley

 

To the North.

The homes here are all built to withstand avalanches (built into the hillside).

The homes here are all built to withstand avalanches (built into the hillside).

Behind the waterfall and way up to the left is a Swiss Alpine Club hostel. A trip for another day or year.

 

The glacier river runs mightily here

The glacier river runs mightily here

A pleasant surprise to find a herb garden up here.

A pleasant surprise to find a herb garden up here.

Self-serve homemade syrups and honeys (the one I'm holding we purchased and have yet to try: Alp Rose Honey). The second little "shop" we passed on the way down, in a section of the valley with very high danger of rock slides, and "Absolutely no stopping allowed"... 

This is the furthest up the valley we went, it's time to head back down to Erstfeld, on the other side of the river.

On our own little glacier river beach. The water is almost white.

Heading back down out of the Erstfeld Valley.

Heading back down out of the Erstfeld Valley.

Once in a while I turn around for another last glimpse up this magnificent valley.

This strange creature is called a Slowworm, which is actually a legless lizard.

The trail out of the valley was also pretty narrow and wild and wet from the rain, with some very steep slopes.

Finally back in Erstfeld in the Reuss Valley

Here the glacier river joins the Reuss River. The separation of the waters is pretty evident.

Here the glacier river joins the Reuss River. The separation of the waters is pretty evident.

All the hikes we have done in this area in the past four years.