First Hike of 2019: Einsiedeln to Rothenthurm via Chatzenstrick Pass

January 16, 2019 --  For our first hike of 2019 the weather was perfect for a winter hike in the mountains..... except most of the mountain areas in the country are currently on Avalanche Alert because of the almost non-stop snow in the last two weeks...

We had wanted to go to one of our favourite winter trails in the Schächental Valley in Canton Uri, but had the foresight to phone ahead. We were told the winter trail was closed due to large risk of avalanche. So we had to settle for something in the lower elevations in wide open landscape where no mountains can come down on us....

Our choice was to walk from the town of Einsiedeln in Canton Schwyz (whose massive monastery marks one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Switzerland; it is an important stop on the St.James Trail through Switzerland) over the low pass called Chatzenstrick (only 200m ascent from Einsiedeln) to the high moor of Rothenthurm, popular for cross-country skiing in winter and a protected area of national importance for the revival of the disappearing moor landscapes.

This location is only an hour travel from home, so an extra plus, and we did have lots of sunshine for our 12-km afternoon walk.

This is the view South across our home city of Zug as seen from the train window (the fastest way to our destination was North, then SE, then South.... One hour by train)

The massive monastery in Einsiedeln

Heading up to the Chatzenstrick Pass, which is only a 200m ascent to that building top right (50 minutes on foot from Einsiedeln)

Some pretty winter landscape, even though the snow was starting to disappear.

 

Looking down on Einsideln from the Chatzenstrick Pass

 

There were two dry benches in front of the chapel, so we had a coffee break while enjoying the view

 

Heading down the other side of the Pass, northwards toward the Rothenthurm Moor

Below us the wide open Rothenthurm Moor

 

Winter landscape on the Rothenthurm Moor

Walking across the Rothenthurm Moor. We had lots of sunshine

This open area is popular with cross-country skiers

The sun was pleasant but the trail was a bit soft and it took longer to get to our destination than we expected.

 

Lovely winter afternoon. 

Arriving at our goal of Rothenthurm where we took the bus home via Aegeri

Our Wednesday afternoon walk: 12 km including a quick walk to the Monastery in Einsiedeln before crossing the Chatzenstrick Pass and walking across the Rothenthurm Moor. Took us 3 hours and 45 minutes.