So we were very pleased a couple of years ago to find out that the "Palfries Cableway Association" opened a previously (since 1941) only-for-military-use cableway to the public in May 2016, a 3-km ride which accesses the Palfries High Plateau (previously part of the Sargans fortification) from the Seez Valley 1200 m below.
We had been planning to do that trip for the past two years, but because it was widely publicized at the time, it is a popular destination, and since the cable car carries only 8 people every 15 minutes, you have to reserve your time slot ahead of time. On the weekends it is almost impossible to find a decent time slot. So on this Wednesday morning, which dawned blue and cloudless, we decided short notice to head up there, as the Internet Calendar was showing very few reservations.
This turned out to be another successful outing, as we really encountered no one on our 14-km round tour which turned out to be part high alpine along a vertical line of craggy cliffs, and typical central Switzerland meadows and moor landscapes on the way back. And many views of Lake Walensee to the West, and the peaks of what is called Sarganserland to the Southwest. Ten days earlier we had hiked in the Weisstannen Valley across from here, into which we got the most stunning views from the Palfries Plateau.
Highlight of the day: We witnessed an avalanche, a huge piece of snow breaking off the top of a mountain and rushing down a narrow couloir. We were alerted to it by the massive noise it made. Nature really is mighty....
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| The Palfries upper plateau was part of the Fortress of Sargans properties |
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| Palfries Cable Car, open to the public in May 2016, rises over 1200m right above the waterfall. Total trip is 3 km. |
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| On the way up with the cable car looking NW to the Churfirsten mountain range |
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| Up here we can look right into the Weisstannen Valley, which we walked out of 10 days ago. On the left is Mount Pizol (2,844 m), a popular hiking area |
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| Just like a high alpine hike. My favourite. |
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| The first gentians |
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| The view behind us. At the back on the left is the road from the Palfries cable car station. |
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| Down below is the moor landscape which was the return portion of our 14-km loop hike. |
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| There were still many snow patches up here which we had to navigate |
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| Entering the Sennis-Malun Nature Reserve |
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| Our first view West across Lake Walensee |
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| Here's where we had our picnic lunch, at the high alpine farmstead called "Malun" |
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| Mount Gamsberg |
We heard a loud rumble and saw a large piece of snow break off from the top of the mountain and flow down a couloir, sort of like a waterfall...  |
| Mount Gamsberg before and after the avalanche |
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| Heading back, we first have to make our way to the small building up on the hill ahead. |
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| Filling up on Swiss Mountain Water |
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| Lots of water along the way |
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| Alp Castilu overlooking Lake Walensee and the Churfirsten Mountains. |
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| Wonderful meadows at the border of the Sennis-Malun Nature Reserve |
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| Another farm house |
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| Looking across the valley at the Malun farmstead where we had lunch, and Mount Gamsberg on the left (where we saw the avalanche) |
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| A different type of gentian. I love the blue flowers. |
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| On our way back along the moor landscape. That mountain looks like a person lying down. |
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| Wonderful rock formations on these fabulous cliffs. |
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| Alpine flowers |
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| The tiny Palfries cable car, which we also rode back down into the Seez Valley |
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| Our 14 km hike around the Palfries upper plateau. Took us 4 hours and 30 minutes. |
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| Our 14 km hike around the Palfries upper plateau. Took us 4 hours and 30 minutes. This is in Canton St. Gallen in Easter Switzerland near Sargans and the border to Liechtenstein. |
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