Our plan was to hike down Mount Niederbauen in the Central Alps on the South side of Lake Lucerne, a beautiful area not far from where we live. (Also the same area where we hiked twice the week before). A quick look on the Internet at the webcams showed us clearing views of the lake, so we decided to risk it. Interestingly enough, the fastest way for us to get to the starting point of our hike at 10 a.m. with public transit was: Bus-Train-Train-Bus-Boat-Funicular-Bus-CableCar, and took us about 2 hours! The "Getting There" was a treat in itself.
The trail we hiked was called the "Emmetten Game Observation Trail", but hard as we looked, we saw no game. It is simply too hot for them to come out of the caves. But we saw loads of cows, which is almost always as great. The trail was nicely varied just how we like it, the downhill not too steep, and even the two steep uphill portions quite do-able. And the weather very pleasant. Nicest thing was, THERE WERE NO OTHER PEOPLE! Unusual for this area, although it is more over-run in winter.
Another thing that I found special: At one point we were just above the village of Bauen which featured in two very recent hikes, and looking across Lake Uri, this time we got a super view down onto the area near Eggbergen where I did the Wild Hay Trail only four days earlier. It is always so cool to see where we've been from a different angle!
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| Crossing the lake from Brunnen to Treib (where we then changed to a funicular) was cold and not looking too hopeful for our choice of hike for the day (view South along Lake Uri) |
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| To get to Mount Niederbauen, first buses and trains to Brunnen (upper left), then a boat to Treib (20 minutes, upper right) then the funicular up mount Seelisberg (8 minutes, bottom left). Bottom right is the view over Lake Lucerne on the funicular ride. It's looking better! |
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| From Seelisberg by bus to Emmetten (the start and end of our excursion), then with the Niederbauen cable car to the start of the hike. |
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| This is the landscape we are hiking, below the cliffs on the left, to Stockalp on the right, where we take another cable car down to Emmetten |
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| A few puffs of clouds still, but it's looking good. And always happy to hike where the cows are grazing, because the cow bells and the countryside are so relaxing. |
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| Just before the steep ascent to Faulberg we got some spectacular views into the eastern Glarner Alps and below to Lake Uri |
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| Starting on the hike near the cable car station. In the back are the distinctive peaks of the two Mythen, and on the right is the top of mount Niederbauen (we did not go up there). |
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| This one probably hasn't seen too many people today, wondering what we are. On the right is the steep trail up to Faulberg. From there it was mostly downhill |
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| Lovely landscapes |
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| Behind the cows is the Schächental Valley going up to the Klausen Pass |
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| Below is Lake Uri, and behind it the Ober Axen alp, where I hiked four days earlier |
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| A steep climb to Faulberg |
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| At the highest point on our hike. First we have to see what the cows are up to before venturing into their midst. A whole lot of them had just raced past, and we didn't want to be among them when they are running! |
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| View to Lake Lucerne and Mt. Bürgenstock on the left, Mt. Rigi on the right. Cable Car station where we started is right in the center on the rise. |
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| Walking along the upper ridge looking for a suitable place for a picnic lunch. |
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| This cow has freckles! |
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| This is the perfect place for a picnic lunch. We searched the cliffs in vain for game. But we could admire the trail we were going to take, past the house with the red roof and down into the gully and up the slope behind my head. |
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| This is the closest we came to chamois or ibex. |
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| On these hot days I take every such opportunity to wash my hands and face and fill up my water bottle! |
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| The trail was very varied and wonderful to walk. |
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| Here was another good spot in the shade for a coffee break |
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| Above the little cabin where we had a break, there was a waterfall and an upper valley that you could also hike up to. |
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| This little guy looked like he was drowning in the cow pie, so I rescued him. On the other hand, maybe he was just cooling off from the heat as well! |
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| Before heading up the final ascent toward our destination, here's to savouring our effort for the day. The entire stretch from left to right below the cliffs... |
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| At Stockalp, before descending back to Emmetten on the next cable car, admiring where we started. Because we started late (at noon) we were pretty lucky with the timing. When we got here it was 16:45, the final cable car run this day was 17:30. (not sure why so early...) |
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| View over Emmetten and Lake Lucerne on the way down in the Stockalp cable car. |
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| Back down in Emmetten, we were just in time to buy and eat icecream before the bus came. (Return trip via Lucerne, not Boat etc. like on the way here) |
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| A wonderful hike, not too strenuous, splendid landscape. 9 km, took us a about 4 hours. |
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| A favourite hiking region for us, we can get to all these places in about 2 hours. |
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