Riemenstalden Valley to Stoos in Canton Schwyz

Thursday July 29, 2021 -- We are both lucky that our co-workers are willing to trade our days off with us, as this week only Thursday was a nice day. (On our regular day off, Wednesday, it rained for most of the day).

As of the day before, our weather report showed Canton Schwyz nearby was supposed to have the most beautiful sunshine, so we set off on a hike we had planned for a while: Starting in the Riemenstalden Valley with a small cable-car ride, we wanted to walk from the Lidener Swiss Alpine Hostel toward the back of the valley and then over a small pass toward the popular vacation resort village of Stoos. Altogether a 4-hour and 12-km hike with very little difficulty.

What we keep forgetting is that with this much rain, there is lots of fog in the mountains and clouds settling on the peaks, so the sunny forecast is for the valleys, where it's often too hot anyway to walk. And once we got started on this hike we were committed, as the bus runs only once into, and once out of (late afternoon) the valley, and we had already paid for the cable car.... only to be met with a large cloud of fog rolling in at exactly the altitude where we were to start the hike.

So we supported the hosts at the Lidener Hostel (they have sure had a bad year!!!) by purchasing two cups of coffee each and some cake, while waiting for the fog to lift, which it didn't. So we set out to complete the hike anyway, although I will avoid hiking in the fog if at all possible. (In retrospect, I have to admit that the fog makes for some nice photos...) We have to say that at least it wasn't hot, and it didn't rain, but what a shame that we barely had any view (only once or twice a short window opened up). This area of the Muotathal is one I particularly love. We've been in these valleys many times before and the landscape is beautiful, so that was a real shame.

At the very end of our hike as we reached the village of Stoos, that's where we finally had sunshine. We were going to descend on the famous funicular which is the steepest in the world, but our online bus schedule was showing us cancelled bus connections in the Muota Valley, so we took the cable car to Morschach instead.... where weirdly the schedule also showed cancelled buses, so we hitched a ride to Brunnen. In retrospect, we think there was something wrong with the schedule, and not with the bus....

Our ride up from the Riemenstalden Valley to the farm at Gitschen. No sunshine yet but there's still hope because it's only 08:15. One positive: This is a popular area and usually there are lots of people wanting to use this private farmer's cable car, which transports maximum five people, and you usually have to wait quite a bit. This time there was no wait...

At the farm in Gitschen, we have more hope as there is some blue sky showing in the direction of Lake Spilau, a hike we have done several times.

But today's plan is not to go to the lake, but eastward into the valley, with the first stop at the Lidernen Hostel (in the circle). In that direction the fog is looking thick. 

Sure enough, the fog rolled right in. We had a second breakfast here at the hostel (coffee and cake) and waited 45 minutes, but the fog did not clear. 

We decided to complete the hike anyway, even though I generally balk at hiking in the fog (I want some views!). But the alternative was having to pay the cable car again, and a taxi back to the lake at Sisikon... which didn't make sense. Time to reach Stoos is about four hours. 

Heading away from the hostel with the backdrop of thick fog. 

The trail on this side of the valley was wide and easy to walk, not wet or dirty. I actually rather enjoyed it. 

A small lifting of the fog so we can see the beautiful rock formations on this side of the mountain. 

Looking westward back down the Riemenstalden Valley toward Seelisberg. Over there was sunshine all day. (The girls who gave us a ride down to Brunnen later were hiking the ridge hike on the other side of this valley, on the right. They said they could just as well have photographed their bedsheets.)

Still lots of alpine roses covering the hillsides. 

First we descended to valley bottom on these "stairs", so it wasn't slippery, and after that we crossed the Wannentritt at the arrow. There was still hope of the fog lifting. But it only got worse as we got there. 

Some very nice limestone rock formations (karst)

By the time we were heading uphill again toward the Wannentritt, the fog became quite thick

This situation looked very weird, as there was no indication where the trail went from here! Turns out we had to go around the digger and a couple of steep steps up to the tree trunk, which he told us he was in the process of removing. Apparently the masses of rain was making the slope unstable, and the tree trunk was going to bring the whole trail down with it otherwise. 

When we crossed the Wannentritt and came out on the Muotathal side, this is the view we had. We had our picnic lunch here, and waited in the hope that the fog would lift. As it turned out, it did clear for about 15 minutes so we were able to see the geography a bit better in both valleys.

At least the meadow flowers were pretty

Admiring the flowers and butterflies during our lunch break and while waiting for the fog to lift.

Just before we continued on our way, the fog lifted, so we returned to the Wannentritt pass to look into the Riemenstalden Valley. 

A panorama view of the Riemenstalden Valley in a short bit of time when the fog lifted. The arrows are where we walked from. Below is the digger who is fixing the trail.

And here we are continuing on our trail, which goes over the hill to the left of that rocky outcropping which is called Planggstock. It was this clear for only a few minutes, and the fog moved back in. 

Crossing the saddle as the fog is moving in from the other side. 

This little fellow greeted us with great enthusiasm

Looking back at the Planggstock

Being observed by the little boy (?) cows.

Still lots of pretty landscape, even with the low clouds

Looking down into the Muotathal Valley

A photo of the Greater Mythen, possibly the most we will see of it this day?

We had two options to get to Stoos from this point: 1 hr. 35 minutes mostly along a paved road, or 2 hours on a mountain trail. We chose the mountain trail, which also provided us with better views than along the road, but which turned out to be very muddy.

Heading on toward the mountain trail...

Again being observed. 

The mountain trail was tough going, because it was totally soft and muddy from the rains and the cows ruining the trail. There weren't a lot of other options for going right or left, as most of the meadow was like this. 

After about 30 minutes of struggling to find the best way around this hillside, we finally reached less muddy paths. Urs wasn't too happy about this section!

A look across the mountainside to the Planggstock where we had crossed earlier (where the little dog greeted us)

We were very surprised to see marmots here! We usually see them at higher elevations.

And finally, the last stretch to Stoos. Right below is the Klingenstock chair lift station. Further on are other cable cars and the world-renowned funicular. 

Passing by the Klingenstock chair lift station. This takes you to the ridge where you can do the popular ridge hike, which was also in the clouds this day. 

The little chapel at Stoos, and behind it the Mythen mountain. The clouds are lifting a bit and you can see more of the base of the mountain. 

And this is the cable car we took down to Morschach, instead of taking the funicular. 

Riding down with the Morschach cable car, this is a spectacular view of the road that comes out of the Muotathal Valley, plus the two Mythen mountains in the background, now almost fully visible. On the left is the town of Schwyz, the capital city of the Canton of Schwyz.

The four-hour hike from the Gitschen cable car to Stoos via Lidernen Hostel, Wannentritt and Planggstock. 

The trail as viewed on Google Earth Satellite map, including the two cable cars. 

Another favourite area of ours to hike!!! We've also done the popular ridge hike from Fronalpstock to Klingenstock (dark orange trail in the center of the photo)

This area is very close to where we live in Zug