World's First open-top Double-Decker Cable Car: CABRIO

Wednesday July 10 -- When I first came to Switzerland in 2013, one of the first excursions I did with my son who was visiting at the time was to take the World's First (and possibly still only) Open-Top Double-Decker Cable Car (open for operation just one year earlier) up to the top of Mount Stanserhorn. At the time the fog rolled in while we were up there, so we only had a few moments of the spectacular views you have from up there.

Urs had never been on this cable car, so we decided to do the trip again... there were clouds in the mountains but this peak was clear, so we had high hopes. We were early and it was quite cool, but we had some nice views (although hazy) for only an hour or so. But then... déjà-vu... the fog rolled in again and there was no point in waiting around, so we headed on our planned hike down to Wiesenberg. We picked this route because a) it was a ridge trail (no views unfortunately due to the fog) and because b) there was another one of those tiny cable cars to try out at the end. Turns out it was a pretty steep descent and the trail was hard to find, but we had sunshine, and the top of Mount Stanserhorn stayed hidden in the mist for the rest of the day.

The trip up Mount Stanserhorn starts in Stans with a ride in the original funicular (built 1893, the first mountain railway to be operated by electricity), and then you switch to the magnificent huge car with its narrow spiral staircase to the upper deck (everyone squeezes up there) and the open deck with no cables above you because the car rides on two 7-cm thick cables, one on each side. It's an absolute marvel...

On the other hand, the little farmer's cable car from Wiesenberg to Dallenwil is also a wonder, starting in an unassuming barn where you have to phone the operator to start the motor... Another one to check off our list! (There are apparently 200 of these in Switzerland and we are trying to ride most of them!)

The ride up to the top of Mount Stanserhorn starts in the historical funicular, built in 1893

View North from the funicular to Stanstad and Lucerne

And then you switch to the Cabri-O cable car. Everyone wants to be on the upper deck! (Max 30 people)

 

You can see it best this way: The car that passes you on its way down. No one in there yet!

This used to be a hotel, and the funicular used to go all the way up here until mid-1970's when a fire destroyed a lot of it. Now it is just a restaurant (revolving restaurant)

I was hoping we would be entertained again with some alphorn music, but I think it was over for the day.

We started by doing the 30-minute tourist hike, which goes up to the highest point of the mountain, the look-out point

 

There are already indications that the mist might be coming up here

There is a small enclosure with marmots up here, and they just had some babies!

On the summit of Mount Stanserhorn

Fences need fixing

Heading back along the 30-minute tourist trail

Back at the restaurant, watchhing the Cabri-O cable car heading down again.

The view was a bit hazy, but still quite spectacular, across Lake Lucerne to the North

   

VIDEO:

The Cabri-O cable car rides on 7-cm cables which support it on either side, instead of hanging from a cable. This way you ride on the open deck without seeing the cable above you.

  

Lots of mist coming in now

This photo was perfect timing!

After a lunch at the restaurant it was time to start our planned hike, a short one today but a steep descent. The mist had come in and it was getting cold, so we didn't see any sense in waiting.

A bit disappointing: The first part of our hike along the ridge, with descent to the farm on the left, was in the fog, so we didn't get the view South that we were hoping for.

To the North it was still looking OK

After a long section through the forest, we emerged on the South side in pleasant warm weather for the rest of our hike

Here's where we start our very steep descent to Wiesenberg

Always some fun obstacles along the way

 

There is still a cloud covering the top of Mount Stanserhorn, so good thing we didn't wait

Even though the trail was steep and difficult to see, it zigzagged down through this beautiful meadow

The most beautiful meadows...

 

This is a "suburb" of Wiesenberg, and the cable car passes right beside this church

 

From our vantage point on the hill we saw the cable car making its way down toward Dallenwil

Last stretch to the road, and then into the little hamlet of Wiesenberg on the right

We came down from up there...

The summit station of the Wiesenberg-Dallenwil Cable Car is so unassuming!

 

View into the Engelberg Valley from the Cable Car

Some more steep slopes being mowed

 

And here is another small cable car to check off our list!

Bottom station looks quite impressive!

 

Small hike for us this Wednesday, close to home and only 2 hours (plus the leisurely tourist loop at the top)