A Hike down Mt. Kronberg in Canton Appenzell

Wednesday April 20, 2022 -- We really wanted to get into the mountains again, and the weather forecast for Appenzell in eastern Switzerland was good, so we took a cable car up the local mountain called Kronberg where I had not yet been, and walked down the mountain to Weissbad, an easy 3.5-hour and 11-km descent. There was still lots of snow and it was cold when we started, but it was nice to be up close to the mountains again. 

Highlights were the snow-covered peaks of the Alpstein Massif, the sighting of the first gentians of the season, and when we got to Weissbad (where we had been informed that the Rehabilitation Clinic there had a very nice outdoor restaurant terrace) we treated ourselves to ice cream sundaes (this has become a bit of a tradition) with enough time to make it to the the 15:20 train. We even got home at an early hour! (ca. 6 p.m.). 

We have done a lot of hiking in this area, and it is nice to see where we've previously been, viewed from a different angle.

Heading up to the summit of Mt.Kronberg by cable car from Jakobsbad below

At the summit of Mt. Kronberg, the view to the northwest

A look at the outliers of the Alpstein Massif, and the Churfirsten mountains beyond. On a different occasion, we have walked along that first ridge below, when we hiked from Schwägalp to Urnäsch in 2017. Those photos can be viewed HERE

Some very impressive cow bells on display in the Kronberg Restaurant (I didn't want to have the lady's face on the photos, so she looks like she's inside the bell!)

Heading off on our hike from the restaurant / cable car station to walk eastward down the mountain.

Panorama view of Mt. Säntis and the Alpstein Massif

A relatively easy 3.5-hour walk (11 km) down Mt. Kronberg to Weissbad. 

Heading east along the ridge down Mt. Kronberg. In the back are two other hills which we have to cross along before heading into the valley bottom. 

Down below is the St.Jakob's Chapel. On the north side of the summit, i.e. more to the left and 15 minutes from the chapel are "curative" springs called "Jakobsquelle".

The first mountain flowers!

It's unusual to see daffodils in the wild

A look back at the summit of Mr. Kronberg, where we descended from

We found a good place for our picnic lunch

This was the view from our picnic spot (tripod set up where we were sitting)

A large part of the trail was on such farming roads. Note: In the background on the left is Mt. Kronberg, where we started

Several times we had to cross fences like this

Final descent to Weissbad below. In the background is the mountain called Hoher Kasten, from where we have also done ridge hikes

Walking down to Weissbad with the Hoher Kasten peak ahead of us. 

And a reward for finishing another hike: Ice Cream Sundaes!

Crossing the Brüelbach River to the train station. 

A very unusual outcropping in the Alpstein Massif

The trail down the Kronberg Mountain

Another area where we have done a lot of hiking

The region of Switzerland where Mt.Kronberg is located