Clariden High Trail from the Klausen Pass to Urnerboden.

Parkes is our model for all our hikes this week.

August 5, 2018 -- Vacation Week Day 2: Our hike along the Clariden High Trail from the Klausen Pass to the Fiseten Pass in Canton Uri started with the ever-fascinating Post Bus ride from the Reuss Valley at Flüelen and eastward along the Schächen Valley, one of my favourite valleys in Switzerland. Tight hairpin turns and narrow roads take you high above the kettle-shaped end of the valley to the pass. From there we hiked a short distance (1 hour!) to a glacier lake where we sat for at least another hour just listening to the groanings of the glacier: Small and large rocks continuously dropping off the surface of the massive ice wall into the lake below, and chunks of ice breaking off (unfortunately mostly into a large cleft behind the wall, so we could only hear it), and finally a massive chunk broke off the large exposed wall, which we witnessed but did not photograph as I was just setting up for a self-timer photo and could not delete the program in time for a quick shot. 

I'd say of all the wonderful things we saw this week, this was probably my favourite place. Even the hike itself, I think it's one of the nicest high trails in Switzerland, but luckily not as well-known as others...

From here, another 6 kilometers (approx. 2 hours) of up and down through high alpine pastures high above the Urnerboden Valley included highlights such as spotting a marmot, purchasing locally-found quartz crystals (they say if you carry one in your wallet you will always have cash in the wallet), and most delightful naturally is that this valley belongs to the Swiss Brown Cow, and you hike among them in their pastures. A real treat! At the Fiseten Pass we took a cable car back to the Urnerboden Valley which is the largest alpine meadow in Switzerland, where 1200 cows roam free in Spring and Fall, and they even have a large cheese factory up here to process all the milk produced during the summer. No viewings of cheese-making available, but we purchased local cheese from the cheese shop, before getting back on the bus to continue eastward to the Linth Valley, and from there to Appenzell, where the adventures for Day 3 were to start....

Post bus ride from Flüelen in the Reuss Valley, along the Schächen Valley, to the Klausen Pass

Up here you hike with the cows

A thrill for all our guests (and for me too) to be able to pet the cows

Klausen Pass on the Clariden High Trail

Looking down the Urnerboden Valley to the East, the largest alpine meadow in Switzerland.

Great hiking buddy!

The only marmot sighting of this whole week, and Parkes saw it as she was photographing these cows! I would have missed it.

Big marmot. Wish we had seen more!

Even though the air was a bit hazy, it was a wonderful day away from the extreme heat in the valley bottom

A small easy-to-miss trail detours to the glacier lake, simply named "Little Glacier Lake"

First view of the glacier lake as we came over the rise. The glacier is very close

It was hard going picking our way through all the rocky debris

We spent over an hour up here observing the ice and rocks breaking off the glacier and either falling into the lake or into the cleft behind the ice wall. Side Note: Urs' carpenter cousin built these benches. 

A large piece in the center of the ice wall broke off after we had reached the far side of the lake. These pictures are before.

  

Just missed photographing the huge block of ice that fell off the glacier wall. It created a small "Tsunami"...

This was the self-timed photo I was setting up for when the chunk of ice broke off. Would have been great if we could have caught it right as the shutter went off!

Finally time to head on to the rest of the hike

First part of the hike: From the Klausen Pass to the glacier lake. Second part along high alpine meadows to the Fiseten Pass, and then with the cable car down to Urnerboden Valley

A look down into the Urnerboden Valley where the Klausen Pass Road descends again eastward. This road is closed in early winter.

Canton Uri has masses of quartz crystals, usually found in caves. You have to have a license to search for them. Usually farmers and their kids find them and sell them at such stands along the hiking trails. Payment is on the honor principle.

More and more cows all along the way, just minding their own business and tolerating the tourists!

In the hot summer the cows get moved from the Urnerboden pasture below, to even higher alpine pastures

Way in the back the cauldron with the glacier and glacier lake. We are headed to the next pass, the Fiseten Pass

In the center at the back is the Klausen Pass, where we started the hike.

At one small steep section there were a few hiking helps

Last section toward the Fiseten Pass (trail junction ahead) and the cable car station on the left. Way ahead in the middle is the Linthal Valley where we are going by bus.

Last time we were here we walked down to the valley, but it was a very steep 700m descent, so this time we took the cable car.

Below is the little village of Urnerboden. In winter the road is open to here, as some people live here all year round. at the back in the trees is the cheese factory, and to the left is the road that continues toward the Klausen Pass to the West.

Upper Left: Urnerboden Valley, the largest alpine meadow in Switzerland where 1200 cows roam free in Spring and Fall. All the milk produced here in summer is immediately processed in the Urnerboden cheese factory and sold at the cheese store.

Our Hike: Not quite 10 km. Fantastic hike as always. 

To get to the Klausen Pass from our home takes only a little over two hours with public transport. After our hike, we took the train to Appenzell, where we spent the night with plans to hike in the Alpstein Massif the next day.