Irrigation Channels Bineri and Eggeri above Grächen, Canton Valais

September 5, 2017 -- We had five days of vacation recently, and what I really wanted to do was spend the whole time in Canton Valais in a vacation home, doing daily hikes in the area, for example to the Great St.Bernard Pass (where I have never been), maybe to Chamonix to see Mont Blanc, a suspension bridge hike near the Aletsch Glacier, a 5-lake hike near the Matterhorn, and so much more. 

The first week in September should be ideal for this, but we had a late August cold front pass through, with snow down very low, and the only nice day in the Valais was on Tuesday. So we did spend the day there, but had to give up any idea of going above 2000 m, as 4-7 degrees was simply too cold for me.

Instead we chose an irrigation channel hike, which we like to do as well, as the flumes and channels are fascinating, and it is pleasant to walk next to the running water. In the mountain village called Grächen are four lines of irrigation channels, the largest and most popular line being the "Eggeri" trail, so that's what we went for. What a disappointment that apparently the water source had been "turned off" or diverted somewhere, and the ditch was empty! No babbling water to accompany the hike, which would have been rather boring otherwise.

So we cut the hike short (originally planned 14 km, reduced to 10 km) and returned via a smaller and prettier irrigation channel where the water was running! But we couldn't complain about the weather: at 1800m it was sunny and pleasant, and we did get a peek at the peak of the Matterhorn, lovingly called "The Horn" in these parts.

Old house on raised mushroom posts, typical of this area.

Beautiful slate slab roofs

Looking over the town of Grächen and South along the Matter Valley. At the very back on the left, we can just see the peak of Mount Matterhorn.

Zoomed view of the peak of the Matterhorn, known in this area simple as "The Horn"

Just 3 km into our hike it was lunchtime, so we stopped at this pretty terrace restaurant with a view across the valley to Embd.

Lunch at the "Jägerstube" on their view terrace.

Looking North toward the Rhone Valley.

At the northernmost point of our hike, this is a view into the Matter Valley, which joins the Rhone Valley at the back. The city of Visp lies at the joining of the two valleys.

After lunch we ascended 100m to the Eggeri irrigation line, which normally brings water from the glacier at the back, but on this day the water must have been diverted, because the ditches were empty.

After a 100m uphill hike we join the Irrigation Trail heading South

I would not like to pass through a field of these Val d'Herens fighting cows, typical cows of this area.

 

After all the effort to get here, there was no water in the channels. We continued for about 4 km in the hopes there would be water SOMEWHERE, and then gave up. 

After all the effort to get here, there was no water in the channels. We continued for about 4 km in the hopes there would be water SOMEWHERE, and then gave up. 

On a lower irrigation trail, the water was running, which made the hike back to Grächen more enjoyable.

On a lower irrigation trail, the water was running, which made the hike back to Grächen more enjoyable. The trail itself was more interesting as well.

Back at the village of Grächen with its pretty homes.