Dessert at Gummenalp and a Short Walk to Wirzweli (near Luzern)

Wednesday July 7, 2022 -- Even though the forecast was for very nice weather all day, we had bad luck in that clouds had gathered on many of the mountain tops in Central Switzerland, in particular exactly along the trail we had planned for the day. (We had discussed four options the evening before, and the one we chose was the one that had the clouds!)

We had planned to start in Wirzweli just south of Mt. Stanserhorn (near Luzern), ride a small cable car to the restaurant at Gummenalp (a new cable car for us), and walk along a high trail above the beautiful Engelberg Valley, ending our hike with another cable car ride to valley bottom. As we got to the restaurant, though, we could just see the fog (or low cloud in this case), moving up the hillside over our path, and one thing I will not voluntarily do is walk in the fog. Without the sun it was also quite cold. And furthermore, most of the other peaks to the south were hidden by low clouds. Only to the North, in the Luzern region, it was wonderfully sunny.

So we had cake and dessert at the restaurant, and spent two hours up there (always trying to find sunny spots) in the hopes the clouds would lift, which they didn't. So we settled on simply walking back down to Wirzweli, a short walk for us, not even five kilometers. By the time we got back to valley bottom it was already 2:30 p.m., and we didn't want to start something new, so we called it day....

From here in Dallenwil in the Engelberg Valley, the day is looking pretty promising! The train was packed full of people, most of them going to Engelberg by the looks of it. Few people got out here, and we were able to get a spot on the shuttle bus to the cable car station, saving us a 1-km uphill walk along the paved road

There is a cableway to access the family vacation resort called Wirzweli. With our pass we can ride this for free.

For some time there were clouds at the summit of Mt. Stanserhorn, obscuring the view of the mountains to the south for the many people who were heading up to that summit

Summit station of the Wirzweli cableway

A look down at Dallenwil and Mt. Buochserhorn, as well as Lake Lucerne and Mt. Rigi at the very back

On a previous occasion we had walked up to the Gummenalp Restaurant from Wirzweli (350m altitude), but since we had a 3-hour hike planned, we wanted to START at the restaurant. The Gummenalp cablecar (15 minutes from the village) saves us those 350 meters.

This is our first time riding the little Gummenalp cable car. We were lucky that no one else wanted to ride up at the same time. It only cost 6 CHF! We had to phone up to the operator, and pay at the top.

A comfortable ride on the Gummenalp cableway

From the Wirzweli Ridge, a look up the Engelberg Valley. Clouds are low on those peaks as well. On this side, the clouds were actually at our level.

We were early and the lunch crowd had not yet arrived, so we ordered a pre-hike dessert and spent two hours up here waiting in the hopes the clouds would dissipate

This little cow is wondering what the farmer is doing to the grass.

Here at the restaurant and to the north there was sunshine, but not to the south where we wanted to walk. Trying to wait it out with a nap. It was a bit cold though.

Another look south along the mountainside that we wanted to walk. Instead of dissipating, the clouds are getting thicker and lower. So we decided to head north back down to the community of Wirzweli

It ended up being a short walking day for us. 15 minutes from the Wirzweli station ot the Gummenalp cableway, then 1.5 hours walk back down. When we got to valley bottom, we also walked the 20 minutes to the train station. So about two hours of walking. But at least we had sunshine.

Heading along the Wirzweli Crest

Photoshoot with the cows

Heading down to Wirzweli, not at all a difficult trail!

The clouds on Mt. Stanserhorn have cleared, to the relief of all the tourists who took the Cabri-O double-decker cable car up on the other side!

Instead of going directly down to Wirzweli, we did a detour via the witch's forest, a special themed trail for the kids

There's a witch sleeping in the trees!

Urs is learning where the sun rises and sets here...

Final stretch down along the Gummenalp cableway line to where we got on (below on the right)

A look over the roofs of the community of Wirzweli. There is also access by a paved road to here. The cableway got busy as the lunch crowd headed down again!

Up there is the Gummenalp Restaurant

Back at Wirzweli, the cable car was already ready to go down. We didn't have to wait long. There were very few people, always a good thing. Heading down to Dallenwil now, where we walked about a kilometer to the train station.