May 20, 2018 -- The weather report had us fooled into thinking it was going to be rainy this Pentecost weekend, but the rain held off till the evening, and on this Sunday the weather could not have been better for this hike along the Weisstannen Valley, a side valley North of the popular hiking area around Mt. Pizol in the very eastern part of Switzerland. This is the kind of hiking I have been waiting 6 long months for....
First we took the Post Bus to the furthest stop at the back of the valley, where there is a charming mountain restaurant called Siez, where we had an early morning cup of coffee before joining the bus driver on his trip back out the valley. We got off at the next stop East to start our walk along the Seez River to the village of Weisstannen, (translates to White Fir), from which the valley gets its name. Here we got to see some cows heading from barn to pasture, as it's that time of year, and we also bought local home-made cheese at the local home shop, something we try to do on every such outing.
At the halfway point of this 14-km hike the trail left the river to go up the left flank of the valley, and ended with a long downhill walk to the town of Mels at the mouth of the valley. It took us over four and a half hours to walk, but worth every minute of it!
(Interesting information: The Seez River, which has its source at the back of the Weisstannen Valley, flows 33 km to enter Lake Walensee from the South. Across from the entrance to this valley, just East of the city of Sargans, is the border to Liechtenstein, and the Rhine Valley. And where we were at the back of the valley was just on the border of the Unesco World Heritage site Sardona Tectonic Arena)
 |
| Early morning light on Lake Walensee and the Churfirsten mountains on our way to the Weisstannen Valley |
 |
| Heading up by bus into the Weisstannen Valley: This view is to the East into the Rhine Valley and Liechtenstein |
 |
| We were the only people in the bus headed to the back of the Weisstannen Valley. Up ahead is the Unesco World Heritage Site Sardona Tectonic Arena |
Final stop of the bus before heading back: Alp Siez. We had 20 minutes for coffee before heading back with the bus to the one-before-last bus stop, where we actually started our hike.
 |
| We walked 14 km out of the Weisstannen Valley, first along the Seez River, then down to Mels. |
 |
| This was the start of our hike, looking backwards |
 |
| Walking along the Seez River |
 |
| At the village of Weisstannen is a side valley, where there are several stunning waterfalls. This is a plan for us once more snow has melted. |
 |
| In Weisstannen we saw cows heading to pasture, and purchased homemade cheese. |
At this time of year, the cows leave the barns and head out to pasture
 |
| Continuing eastward from Weisstannen |
 |
| Typical lush Swiss meadows |
 |
| Another look back up the valley as we cross the river and head up the hill on the left side of the valley |
 |
| What would our hike be without our favourite Swiss Brown Cows. |
 |
| High above the canyon we head out of the valley |
 |
| A great place for a picnic lunch |
 |
| Getting closer.... |
 |
| As we continue eastward the valley below (Sargans, Liechtenstein, Rhine River) opens up |
 |
| There is actually a mailbox way out here, way way off the regular road.... Does the postman really come here? |
 |
| And a final look back into the valley, to marvel at what we accomplished, having come from beyond the joining of those two valleys |
 |
| A view of Mels below and Sargans behind, with its distinctive castle which we always see when we pass here on our way to Chur |
 |
| Sargans castle, and behind it: Gutenberg Castle in Balzers, Liechtenstein. |
 |
| Another 15 minutes walk along the Seez River in Mels, to get to the train station. |
No comments:
Post a Comment