The section we did was Stage 4 between Eggerberg and Naters, an 11 km stretch which took much longer than anticipated (4 hours) but also turned out to provide a nice variety of narrow trails, a large part next to the railway line (South Ramp of the Lötschberg Railway), several sections up and down steep rocky areas nicely laid out with stone steps, along two of the many famous irrigation channels of this area (called Suones, and very necessary for watering this dry area), always with views up and down the Rhone valley.
Of particular interest was the BLS protected forest, a huge reforestation project by the BLS train company (who built the Lötschberg South Ramp) who purchased the hillside and planted 10 million trees and built an elaborate irrigation system of tiers and tiers of handrail-type pipes throughout the forest to keep the slopes from eroding and damaging the railway line. Sections at a time receive 24 hours of irrigation, and hikers are warned that they should come prepared with rain gear. Lucky for us, they weren't irrigating that day, although it looked like there might have been some recent watering, where the forest floor was particularly advanced with carpets of bear garlic, violets and even the first signs of crocuses and daffodils.
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| This fantastic structure is the Aarburg Castle, which we pass on our way to the Southwest part of Switzerland |
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| From our starting point in Eggerberg, we walked back toward Brig parallel to the railway line. This section of the Walliser Sonnenweg (Valais Sunshine Trail) is also the Lötschberg South Ramp Trail |
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| From where we started near Eggerberg, this view is South into the Matter Valley, across the city of Visp. At the back is the Mischabel Massiv, whose highest peak (Mount Dom) is the highest peak solely on Swiss terrain. |
On this first section we follow the Laldneri Suone (Irrigation Channel). This 5-km long channel whose origins go back to 1312 takes its water from the Baltschieder Valley, and is still in full operation, bringing water to the pastures of the village of Lalden below.
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| The first 4 1/2 km of the trail follows the South Ramp of the BLS railway line |
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| The first 4 1/2 km of the trail follows the South Ramp of the BLS railway line |
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| Originally there was only one track here built on an old stone support. To expand to two tracks, they simply poured a second support of cement against the old stone support. |
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| Trains from the BLS train company run on the South Ramp from Bern through the Lötschberg Tunnel to Brig. |
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| A great spot for a picnic and train watching. |
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| Exciting signs of Spring |
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| Further up the hill we head into the BLS protected forest. |
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| The forest is full of hand-rail-type pipes which run 24 hours at a time to make sure the roots get plenty of water |
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| A system of pipes provides water for the 10,000,000 "newly"-planted trees in the BLS forest. |
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| There were a few steep stretches (up and down) nicely laid out with stone steps |
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| Bridge crossing the exit of the Gredetsch Valley, another parallel valley from which several Suones carry water toward the Rhone Valley. |
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| Approaching the city of Brig (below). The hike is taking a lot longer than the 3 hours 10 minutes advertised on the trail marker at the start.... (it took us 4 hours altogether) |
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| These slate-tiled roofs are typical of the Valais area of Switzerland |
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| A look backwards into the Rhone Valley and the BLS South Ramp Railway line far below (BLS Protection Forest on the entire hillside on the right). |
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| Here we followed another Suone (Drietschneri) for about 1 km, this one has its source in the Gredetsch Valley and is mainly used to water the protection forest. No water was running at this point because it is being cleaned. |
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| Last stretch before descending to the town of Naters below |
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| The church in Naters and the fascinating Bone House |
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| View of Mount Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau Trio as we head back home after the Löstschberg Tunnel |
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