First Hike of 2018 in the Emmental

January 6, 2018 -- Our first hike of the new year 2018, and we found a place that had sunshine and we ran into only a very few snowy spots as the snow has quickly disappeared on the slopes that have Southern exposure.

We hiked 12 km in the Emmental, a favourite area of ours for lower elevation hiking as the hilly landscape is varied and interesting and pastoral and much nicer than walking in the very flat areas.

It turned out to be like a damage-assessment excursion, as we had some hurricane-strength winds last week and trees got blown down everywhere around the country. So our forest walk was much like an obstacle course, going under large trees lying across the path and navigating over the upturned roots. And everywhere the farmers had already cleaned off the branches of the downed trees and laid them all side-by-side in the fields.... probably not really knowing what to do with all that wood as there is currently low demand and prices are not good.

But we enjoyed the walk, with views of the local snow-covered ranges (Schrattenfluh, Hohgant, and Brienzerrothorn), a winding (although muddy) forest trail above a gorge, and plenty of sunshine....  it felt like spring, right down to the sheep in the fields and the cats in the farmhouse windows. 

This is where we started our hike, in Schangnau in the Emmental region of Switzerland. 

We bought some cheese and bread in the local grocery and started with a picnic on a bench in the sun, overlooking Schangnau.

Before heading onto the meadow and forest trail, we admired some of the lovely Emmental houses

 

On the left (Schrattenfluh), in the middle (Brienzer Rothorn), on the right (Hohgant). And the first batch of prepared trunks from the trees uprooted by the storm

On the North flanks there is still plenty of snow, but on the South exposure we can do some hiking, although lots of places were very wet and muddy.

As about half of our hike was through forested areas, we had to deal with a lot of this. We found out later it was advised not to walk in the forests due to some trees being unstable.

From this vantage point it is hard to see, but that large tree on the left had come from way up the hill on the right and carved a swathe across the hillside on its way down.

That tree was originally way up on the hill to the left....

Here's a building that suffered "slightly" from the storm!

And it's always a pleasure to spot wildlife in the forests. There isn't a lot of it and the animals mostly stay hidden.

A pleasant surprise was this cliff made of molasse conglomerate, and the trail went right beneath the overhang... after first having to make our way under the blown-over tree.

   

On each hike we do there is always a surprise like this one.....

Walking across pastures is always a favourite.

We counted at least eight cats at this farmhouse.

Typical Emmental farm scene

Signs of new life, only a couple of more months until spring time!

We had a 40-minute piece on a wet and muddy forest trail and had to navigate over and under lots of downed trees. 

 

Finally out of the forest and into the last stretch, heading North.

Crossing the River Emme. The last portion of our hike to our destination of Eggiwil was unfortunately along the paved road, 3 km.

Last view South to the Hohgant ridge which separates this area from Lakes Thun and Brienz (Interlaken) to the South. It was 3 pm and we were already out of sunshine.

Altogether about 12 km (we had to make a detour at one point) and this took us 3 hours 20 minutes to walk.