So we made a Friday morning hike out of it, which turned out to be just perfect. The morning atmosphere in the mountains at 8 a.m. is soul-soothing, and the large alpine pasture at Lake Spilau not far from home is magnificent. And it was surprisingly green up here, considering a lot of Switzerland is yellow now due to lack of rain....
Our bus driver who took the four of us up the Riemenstalden Valley from Sisikon remembered our two men, who when in highschool had participated in one week of volunteer work up this valley, helping set up a sorely lacking water system to the farmsteads. Furthermore, once up on the mountain we met other old school friends and distant relatives... what a small world! We helped the alp farmer round up one of his cows who needed treatment for a wound, and then he joined us for coffee at his cheese dairy, where we also purchased three types of their home-made cheeses including a specialty cheese called "hay cheese" (ripened in a coat of hay).
After a total ascent of 450m from the cable car, we descended into the next valley over, the Schächen Valley, to our favourite alp restaurant where we ate our regular pork steak with macaroni, and by that time the clouds had moved in with light rain, so it was time to take the next cable car down....
As an aside, this is where my Aunt Ruth goes every year to pick alpine lady's mantle for her special herb tea....
 |
| We were picked up by a small bus at the train station in Sisikon on Lake Uri, and then driven up a narrow winding road into the Riemenstalden Valley. |
 |
| Early morning light in the Riemenstalden Valley. We are headed up to those craggy cliffs up there. |
 |
| A private cable car (4 people) takes you up to the high alpine pastureland. The farmer also transports his calves down into the valley with this cable car. |
 |
| From the cable car station to the lake, then a stop for refreshments and to buy cheese, over the saddle and down to Alpe Selez for lunch, before taking another cable car down to the Schächen Valley. |
 |
| Up here are the coolest rock formations: This is karst geology |
 |
| Heading up to Lake Spilau in this extra specially beautiful landscape |
 |
| At this cluster of homes we met up with old classmates and distant relatives, including the farmer who mainly works this huge pasture (they also make their own cheese) |
(Video): The farmer recruited us to help block the way so that his cow would head into the barn for treatment of a wound...
 |
| Looking back toward the Cable Car station |
 |
| First glimpse of Lake Spilau (Spilauersee) |
 |
| Heading toward the little house where they store and sell the cheese, and where you can have something to drink |
 |
| Cheese storage: the darker ones are from 2017 and cost more than the 2018 cheeses |
 |
| And off we go to head up the 300m hill before it gets too hot! |
 |
| The meadows are blooming wonderfully right now, such a pretty sight! |
 |
| One of the few photos with me in it on this excursion. |
 |
| Getting closer to the top |
 |
| Almost at the crossing point. We can already see into the Schächen Valley to the South. |
 |
| Some pretty flying things |
 |
| Arrived at the highest point on the trail, this is the view to the West (Isenthal Valley) |
 |
| After rounding the hill it's downhill all the way, heading South. In the middle of the picture on the dark ridge you can just barely see the little cable car station from where we are going to descend into the Schächen Valley |
 |
| More meadows, simply captivating |
 |
| Still more meadow flowers, so many different kinds, as far as you can see! We have seen so many meadow flowers this year. |
 |
| As we head South, we get a glimpse of Lake Uri to the West. |
 |
| Even though this was a "short" hike, we had lots of variety |
 |
| This natural rock garden looks like it was planned this way! I was really impressed by this. |
 |
| Lots of snow still in the Uri Alps. The clouds are moving in quickly now! |
 |
| More meadows, I just love the meadows! |
 |
| Approaching our lunch establishment from above. The wide open meadows up here have been harvested efficiently (this is done at least three times in summer). The hay is a necessity to the livelihood of the mountain farmers |
 |
| Here's our favourite mountain restaurant: Alpe Selez. It got kind of cold eating out on the terrace, though. |
 |
| This cable car (Ruogig) takes you down the very steep hillside to the South, into the Schächen Valley. This one carries 6 people, but you have to change into a 4-person car about halfway-down. |
 |
| Changing cable-cars halfway down. This one carries only four people. |
 |
| Only 7 km but still a three-hour hike because of the steep uphill section after the lake. |
 |
| These are all the hikes we have done in this area |
No comments:
Post a Comment