We did the shorter section in November 2016 and had always planned to do the longer section, but because it's not possible for us to do as a day-trip (the second section takes 6 hours to walk) we made it part of a two-day trip, starting in Münster and ending at a hotel in Bellwald (Day 2 was a mountain hike starting with a cable car in Bellwald).
(Here is a link to my album entry for the first half of this trail: Click Here )
We started with a 45-minute tour of the little village of Münster, where we've been several times already but only this time realized there is an "old" part of this "old village" that we had never seen before! The typical structures here are large houses made of dark wood, and loads of tiny barns on raised "mushroom posts" (prevents the mice from accessing the hay) which are currently being renovated into small homes. Some of these structures date at least as far back as 1500, and everywhere you turn, it is QUAINT. I think this has become my favourite Swiss village.
From here a half-hour uphill hike takes you to the same point where we started last time (heading North) except this time we headed South. The trails are very good, mostly narrow trails through forests with the odd view to the villages below in the valley where the young Rhone River (called Rotten here) makes its way toward Lake Geneva. There are many side valleys, and these were the highlight to walk, although each time one side was in deep shadow. And we noticed that all these side valleys were COVERED in Fireweed, but already finished blooming... what a shame! Too late for the purple fireweed, and too early for the yellow larches.
I was very proud of my achievement, 6 hours (19 km) hiking after an hour of village viewing, but a couple of times I really didn't think I could go on, especially on the last uphill stretch. I was glad for dinner and bed and looking forward to the next day, to starting early with the cable car to the lofty elevation of 2875m to look down on the Fiescher Glacier!
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| The excursion really starts in Andermatt with the Gotthard Matterhorn train, which first takes you through the Urseren Valley to Realp, then through the Furka Base Tunnel to the Goms Valley |
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| Early morning traveling across the Ursuren Valley between Andermatt and Realp |
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| This is the village of Oberwald, at the very top of the Goms Valley after exiting the Furka Base Tunnel. In the back, on the left, is the Rhone Glacier, the feeder for the Rhone River, called Rotten here. |
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| We spent 45 minutes walking around the REAL main part of Münster, which we had not even noticed existed before! |
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| This quaint village of Münster in the Goms Valley Canton Valais is probably my favourite Swiss Village |
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| The sheep had just been brought down from the higher alpine pastures and were being sorted in the village... they belong to various farmers. |
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| Strolling through the village of Münster before heading on our 19-km, 6-hour hike |
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| From Münster it's a 30-minute uphill walk to the Gommer High Trail. Part 1 is to the NE (only 11 km), Part 2 is to the SW, 19 km. Knowing what I know now, we should have added the first side valley to Part 1 |
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| A 30-minute uphill climb from Münster to the start of the Gommer High Trail |
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| In the back is Mount Weisshorn, which we glimpsed several times. This peak is 4506m high |
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| The first side valley with the stream called Minstigerbach was my favourite. |
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| Sitting in a field of fireweed, imagining how beautiful this would look all purple-pink! |
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| Below the villages of Reckingen and Gluringen, and the Rotten River making its way toward Lake Geneva. |
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| This is the second side valley with the stream called Reckingerbach. This is where we had our picnic lunch and a nice long break |
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| Each side valley brought us higher from the Goms Valley |
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| Between Gluringen and Biel in the valley bottom stands this little church all by itself |
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| Third side valley, this stream is called Walibach, and on the other side in the shade is a tiny mountain hut called Walihütte where the owners serve drinks, cake and real raclette over an open fire which they have not been allowed to do all summer because of the fire ban here. |
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| It's always exciting when we catch sight of marmots and other wild animals. We also saw a Golden Eagle. |
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| More evidence of the fireweed that bloomed in August |
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| Even though it was in shadow, we decided to stop at the Walihütte for drinks and cake at 4 p.m and a chat with the lady who is up here every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. She can drive to within 15-minutes walk to the hut |
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| At 5 pm we are walking in shadow, but below us the village of Blitzingen still has lovely sunshine |
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| Finally we get to Bellwald at 6 pm and the sun has just set here |
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| This is the view from our hotel balcony in Bellwald. The peaks still in sunshine are where we want to go up the next day, with the cable car you can see through the swathe in the forest. There are actually two cable cars. The hotel gives you a guest card to ride the cable cars for free, and that was the reason we made a 2-day trip out of it. |
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| This is the lower Goms Valley. The 19 km trail from Münster to Bellwald, took us 6 hours. The plan for the next day is to hike to the top of Mount Risihorn for a look at the Fiescher Glacier |
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