The Karst Region between Pragel Pass and the Bisis Valley covers an area of about 100 km2 and consists of a bizarre landscape of limestone rock carved through with thousands of fissures, beneath which lies the largest continuous system of caves in Europe (190km).
View of the largest Karst Region in Switzerland, 100 km2 with the largest continuous cave system in Europe beneath it. |
1 km to the Gumen Cable Car in Braunwald, 13 km across the Charet Alp, and 3 km to the Bus Stop in Schwarzenbach |
**(As it turns out, we hitchhiked and caught a ride out of the valley with an archeologist who works these karst caves who told us about fascinating finds of remains of animals native to this area)
We encountered only about a dozen people along the way, except at the cable car, where we lucked out to be the first to arrive after a full gondola just descended, and had to wait only 15 minutes. Behind us we counted 20 people who arrived in those 15 minutes.... at 8 people per carload in 15 minutes, this means the last of that group would have to wait 60 minutes before getting back to the valley.... Glad it wasn't me, I wouldn't have had the patience!
Taking the Gumen lift to the start of our hike in Braunwald in the Linth Valley |
The unusual peak of Mount Tödi at the South end of the Linth Valley |
The cable car saves us 400 altitude meters. We have to go up a steep 250 m to get to the Karst Plateau (around the corner on the right) |
Wonderful rock formations everywhere |
Just before heading steep up the hill to the left, a glimspe backwards to where we started (little building on the slope way at the back) |
About halfway to the plateau (access through the low spot on the left) |
Finally made it to the highest point. Now we head West. |
Another perfect day for another spectacular hike. |
The largest Karst Region in Switzerland is covered with fascinating rock formations |
It took us longer to walk across this section than expected, because of some snowy sections and all the rock. |
It was a relief to arrive at the spongy surface of this alpine pasture (Erigsmatt) about half-way to our destination |
More stunning landscapes |
Looking back to where we came across the low point at the back, which was about the half-way point of the entire distance. |
Behind me is Lake Glattalp, a parallel valley to the one we came down (which is on the left) |
Glattalpsee, a destination for another day, and a warmer season. This alpine plateau measures some of the coldest temperatures in Switzerland in winter |
Looking South is the ridge that I walked three days earlier, having come up from the Schächen Valley to the South |
Back down from the Pfaff look-out point to the saddle, where we came up from the left and are heading back down on the right |
This ground cover looks like carefully-placed tiles! |
This beautiful rock formation at the back of the Glattalp valley shows how at one point the Earth's crust was pushed up 90 degrees, where the horizontal striations become vertical ones |
The fascinating landscape and rock formations never end up here |
We would have had to wait 30 minutes for the bus, so we hitched a ride to Muotathal, where we got an earlier bus back home. |
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