For Saturday we slept in and started late, heading out of our home at 10:15 toward Engelberg, where this was actually the last weekend that we could catch the bus to the Fürenalp cable-way station (The cable-way continues to run in November, but you have to walk an hour to get there). Since the hike we had planned was on the South-facing slope and high above the valley heading West, we knew we would have lots of sunshine even if we started "late in the day". That is, we got to the start of our hike, the Fürenalp Mountain Restaurant (lots of people up here enjoying a meal on the sunny restaurant terrace ) at 12:45.
The more popular trail in summer heads eastward and down into the valley to return to Engelberg, but we knew ahead of time that this valley lies in dark shadow at this time of year, and sure enough, we had lots of warm sunshine (shorts weather!) except for the descent to "The End of the World" before the return to Engelberg. Furthermore, by the time we did reach Engelberg the sun had gone down behind the steep mountains there, so we saved 20 minutes on the final walk to the train station, and took the bus.
Our timing on this one was great all around for maximum sunshine, and we were back on the train heading home at 5 p.m. to prepare for the next day's excursion.
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| On the way to Engelberg along the Engelberg Valley, the "early morning" (11:30!) light on the Eastern slopes was rather pretty! |
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| At the Engelberg Train station we are going to catch a bus further into the valley, to get the cable car up onto the slope behind the tree. Our hike will bring us around this mountain at about the tree line, descending on the left into a valley called "End of the World" |
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| Heading up the Engelberg Valley, this view is northwards into the "End of the World" Valley, where we are descending to from the right |
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| We had to walk 300m from the bus stop to the cable car station and we walked quickly, because we knew it was a small cable car (8 persons), and we wanted to get there before all the other people on the bus. |
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| We didn't have to wait long, only one car-load ahead of us. The ride up is quick, about 5 minutes. |
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| Shadow of the cable car on the steep cliffs on the way up to Fürenalp |
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| Approaching the Fürenalp station |
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| Posing with the cable car, another small-cabin cable car that we had never been on before, and can now cross off our list! |
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| Lots of people up here enjoying lunch in the balmy warm October sunshine. It was so warm here that I had to change into my skirt for the hike. |
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| Before starting on our hike (trail on the right) we went on a small round-tour of the hill next to the restaurant, to get some views into the valley. |
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| Looking back at the restaurant and the cable car station. In summer, the more popular trail heads further into the valley to the right, and returns at the valley bottom, but there was too much shade in the valley for that option |
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| Behind me is Mt. Titlis, an unusual direction to view it. Most photos are taken from further NW, where you can see the dome with year-round snow |
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| From here, a nice view down to Engelberg |
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| Our "short" (9km) hike took us along the sunny side of the mountain. The only shade we had was on the descent to Horbis (End-of-the-World) and then again as we reached the Brunni cable car station in Engelberg, where we took a bus back to the train station instead of walking the extra 20 minutes |
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| Off and away! The trail was easy, comfortable, and mostly lots of sunshine! This is looking backwards from where we started |
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| And this is the direction we are going, mostly with views of Engelberg below us. This here is called a "Triste" which is how the mountain farmers store the summer hay. |
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| From way up high, looking down at Engelberg |
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| The trail took us into this "recess" and out again past the alpine farm, where the farmers have already closed up for winter. But that is where we had our picnic lunch, before heading up the trail on the left |
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| It was simply glorious to hike this kind of trail at this time of year |
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| A small reservoir |
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| Very popular for paragliding up here. We thought this fellow was a bit too close to the cliffs. |
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| Here's where we had lunch, on a bench in front of the farmer's mountain home. They have closed up for the winter. The cows have been brought down from these alpine pastures. |
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| Looking South at the shady north side of Mount Titlis and a piece of glacier |
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| Another glimpse down at the city of Engelberg |
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| Close-up view of the famous monastery in Engelberg (they make their own cheese here). Our path back to the train station would have taken us past the monastery, but it was all in shadow by the time we got near there, so we caught a bus instead |
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| I can hardly believe there are still butterflies at this time of year |
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| There is good thermal lift here for the paragliders |
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| Here there is a ravine and the trail heads steep downhill to the left (the pasture below is called "End of the World". This is where we had shade on the descent, and it was cold |
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| From here we headed down to Horvis (buildings below), then to the left out of this side valley called "End of the World" |
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| Trail marker to "End of the World". There is nothing there but an alpine pasture, so we did not go that way |
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| Looking into the cauldron that is called "End of the World". We went the other way, though, out of this side valley |
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| We headed South out of the side valley toward Engelberg, and were lucky to still have some sunshine here. |
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| Last bits of sunshine. The city of Engelberg was in shadow by the time we got there (4:30 p.m), so we took a bus back to the train station instead of walking. |
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| Wonderful late autumn hike on the sunny side of the hill above the Engelberg Valley |
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| This is the more recognizable view of Mount Titlis, seen from further North down the Engelberg Valley |
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| Heading home by train, this is the view of the Alps from Lake Zug, close to our home. |
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| This is another area where we have done lots of hiking. The white trail is a bike ride I did once, when I brought the bike to Engelberg by train, and rode back out of the valley toward Lake Lucerne |
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