So after a short day at work (it being middle of Christmas holidays and not a lot going on -- and in exactly one hour after leaving work we were up on the mountain) we went up the North side of the mountain with the newly rebuilt cable car (had only been 6 days in operation after a year of non-operation due to its rebuild) from Arth Goldau to Rigi Scheidegg.
From here is a lovely 7-km winter trail which follows the path of the former Scheidegg Railway which served the mountain but was dismantled many years ago. Only an original but renovated railway bridge remains. The trail is particularly pleasant because it is almost fully level with barely any uphill, and at times you can see far to the North toward Germany or to the South over the wonderful vista of all that is the Alps.
There was a cold wind blowing but the view and the frost-dusted trees made up for it. After a hearty and inexpensive lunch in a popular-to-overflowing family restaurant in Unterstetten, the weather turned VERY cold and stormy, and we covered the final 3 km in record time, to descend back to Lake Lucerne via the Weggis cableway at Rigi Kaltbad. (And then by boat to Lucerne, as that was actually the fastest way back home).
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| After being closed for a year for upgrade, the Rigi Scheidegg Cable-Way reopened on Dec.23rd, only 6 days before we did this excursion. |
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| View East over Lake Lauerzersee and the two Mythen Peaks, as we ascend in the cable car to Rigi Scheidegg |
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| The cable-car ride is 6 minutes, and you get views of Lake Zug to the North and the highest point on Mount Rigi (Rigi Kulm, 1798m) slightly on the left. |
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| At the start of our hike after exiting the cable car, we take in the stunning sharp panoramic views, this one to the East |
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| There was a very cold North wind blowing, but for the first half of our walk we had sunshine and it was quite "magical" |
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| Heading West.... To the South is the entire Alpine Vista (Eiger North Wall even visible on the left, Mount Stanserhorn prominent in the center of the photo) |
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| Uri Alps to the southeast |
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| Straight ahead to the West the first sighting of Mount Pilatus and Lake Lucerne |
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| The snow was cold and dry, perfect to walk on the cleared paths |
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| The frost snow on the trees was prettier than regular new snowfall snow |
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| So pretty |
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| As the trail winds around the hills, we sometimes get views to the North, to Lake Zug and our home |
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| Very cold... |
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| The only thing left of the old Scheidegg Railway Line: a recently renovated railway bridge |
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| More views to Lake Lucerne, and the promise of a warm parlor at the Unterstetten Restaurant |
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| The Unterstetten Restaurant is very popular (excellent food and not expensive) and the parlor was full, but we found a place at a table with a couple and their lovely Bernese Dog, so it worked out well... |
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| The restaurant also has the best location: This is the view from their outside terrace |
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| Heading on westward this is a glance backwards, to the East |
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| There are vacation homes up here, and you can transfer your luggage from the railway station via horse-drawn carriage |
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| It was a long wait for the Weggis-Kaltbad cable car, as the line-up was very long for the descent |
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| View of Lake Lucerne from the Weggis cable car on the descent to Weggis, on the South side of the mountain |
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| We had only 7 minutes to cover the 850 meters from the cableway station to the boat dock to catch the boat to Lucerne, but we (as well as a dozen other people) raced down the hill and made it just in time for the boat. |
From Goldau you take the Rigi Cogwheel Train (which continues on to Rigi Kulm) and get off at Kräbel. From there the new Scheidegg cable car takes you up the North side of the mountain in 6 minutes. The 7-8 km almost level walk usually takes two hours, but we walked it in less than that because it was so cold! At Rigi Kaltbad (where there is the spa with hot mineral baths) you can take another cogwheel train down to Vitznau or another cable-car (7 minutes) to Weggis and from there we took the boat to Lucerne. It was the fastest route to get back home! (Train from there back to Zug).
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