From Brunnen to Vitznau along the Waldstätter Trail

March 30, 2018 -- On this Good Friday holiday there weren't many places around the country with decent weather except locally, so we stayed close to home and walked the lovely Waldstätter Trail from Brunnen to Vitznau on the South flank of Mount Rigi on Lake Lucerne. (In German, Lake Lucerne is called the Vierwaldstättersee, which actually translates to Lake of Four Cantons because it borders four of our Cantons). We had some sun and wind and toward the end the rain clouds pulled in, but in all a trail as we love it, up and down through forests and meadows with views of lakes and mountains and sheep and goats (no cows out yet) and lots and lots of birds of prey.

And always something interesting to learn: For the first time we saw a very rare breed of goat called the Copperneck goat (Kupferhalsziege), which is related to the Valais Blackneck goat but which was never recognized as its own breed, so any animals with such colouring showing up among herds of Blacknecks had been disposed of in the last decades. Since 2006 (when only 28 such goats were found) the Swiss organization ProSpecieRara has been working hard to rescue this rarest of Swiss breeds, which as it turns out are descended from the same forefathers as the Valais Blacknecks (Copper Goats, not because of their colouring but because they can be traced back to the Copper Age)

Our hike starts on the Lake Road near Brunnen, at this little castle (Seeschlössli)

We decided to start the "Waldstätter Trail" at this point instead of in Brunnen, to save 3 km walking along the road. From here the trail went steep up the mountainside.

10-km hike, took us 3 hours 45 mins walking time because there were two sets of steep ascents.

View East from our first picnic spot

Picnic spot with super view. A well-earned rest after an approx. 300-m ascent.

And to the West, the mighty Mount Pilatus

At the halfway mark, we descend into the town of Gersau, before ascending on the other side again.

Interesting item we found in Gersau: Very old boulders transported here from various parts of Switzerland (including a 275 million-year-old rock found while excavating for the Gotthard Base Tunnel), converted into garbage cans, of all things

A common merganser on Lake Lucerne

Interesting artwork: This one is named "Mondo Gioia" (Joyous World)

Lake Lucerne access in Gersau

So many buzzards and kites because it's Spring and the farmers are preparing the pastures.

We found a bench along the road on our second ascent, so stopped for coffee and to enjoy the sunshine and the views.

This was the highest spot on our second ascent.

Another view to Gersau below (looking back the way we came)

A good portion of the hike was along narrow trails like this one, mostly through the woods.

Signs of Spring, the sheep are in the meadows

This is a rare breed of goat called the "Copperneck" or "Kupferhals", related to the Valais Blackneck, and not long ago close to being eradicated. (With the help of breeders they are making a comeback)