Riding the Eggenbergli Farmer's Cable Car in the Schächen Valley

Wednesday August 10, 2022 -- After two long trips we wanted something close by, so we headed once again to our beloved Schächen Valley to ride yet another fun cargo cable car which we hadn't tried out yet. This cable car from Witerschwanden near the Schächen River to high up above a large alpine pasture called Eggenbergli runs on tokens which you first have to procure from locals or a designated business. (You operate this cable car yourself, basically)

In our case, the village grocery store in Spiringen sells them, so we took the Klausen Pass bus as far as this village (we were the only people getting off here....) and bought our token (8 CHF for both of us for one ride up) and walked down from Spiringen to the cable car station at Witerschwanden, about 30 minutes. After another fun ride up the hill (600 meters ascent), we simply walked back down past several mountain farms, talking with the farmers who were busy harvesting the summer hay, finding out that the cable car with its four intermediate stops (towers with stairs) allow them to spend all winter on this steep hillside. (Meaning their kids have to take the cable car down to the valley to go to school). It took us a leisurely 2 hours to walk the 1-hour 15-minute trail back down to the river (partly following an inofficial trail, which turned out to be quite good).

Since we still felt like walking, we decided to continue down the river to the bus stop at Brügg, another one hour walk. But since a section of the official trail was along the busy road with no shade, we decided to follow another inofficial trail shown on our map, keeping south of the river. This was a mistake as the trail simply disappeared after we had been following it for a while, and when we finally found it again, it was so damaged that it almost became dangerous to follow. We didn't want to turn back, but are quite lucky we made it out. 

This is the village of Spiringen where we picked up the token for the cable car ride, which will take us up to the very top of the cleared hillside on the left of this photo. The view is down the Schächen Valley.

In Canton Uri there are many areas where quartz crystals are found (you need a permit to harvest them) and individuals sell them "self-serve" from their homes or along trails. This display was in front of someone's home. Since I couldn't take one of the large rocks with me, I bought the little jar with quartz crystals and pyrite blocks for 3 CHF. (Including a sticker for Canton Uri). 

Some cute houses in Spiringen

A look up the Schächen Valley

Church in Spiringen

Urs' forefathers on his mother's side come from Spiringen. Her last name was Arnold. Gisler and Müller are also Uri names. In this graveyards, most of the gravestones carry the names Arnold, Gisler or Müller, and combinations thereof!

Heading down the path toward Witerschwanden from Spiringen, a 30-minute walk to the cable car. On the upper left is the summit station of the cable car. 

Village of Witerschwanden down below

A quick look at the St.Wendelin & St.Antonius Chapel in Witerschwanden. It had a nice wood-panel ceiling

A swallow's nest under the roof overhang of the chapel

Normally they expect you to travel in the "cabin" where there is a bench, but with the door closed, I could not have taken any photos. So I decided to ride as "cargo". It was fun! Urs rode in the cabin

Leaving the little cable car shed!

We found out later from one of the farmers on this hill, that there are four such "intermediate stations" where you can get on or off. It makes it convenient for each of the residents to transport goods to their farms. 

A look down at the village of Witerschwanden and the hillside we walked down later. 

A look across the beautiful Schächen Valley. Straight across is the pass called Chinzig Chulm, which the Russian General Suvarov crossed with his troops during his battle with Napoleon in 1799

The Eggenbergli cable-car summit station, looking down the alpine pastures. 

VIDEO:

I rode in the cargo portion of this cable car (Urs rode in the cabin) so I could take some video footage. This is our ride up in the Eggenbergli cable car. 

Straight walking time back to the valley station of the Eggenbergli cable car is 1 hour 15 minutes. We took a leisurely 2 hours, talking with the farmers busy harveting their hay, and following some unofficial trails. 

Starting in Spiringen, we walked 30 minutes to the cable-car station for a ride up to the top of the steep alpine pastures. It takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to walk back down to the river. We then walked along the river through the forest for another hour, to Brügg. Total about 3 hours' walk on this day. 

Straight across from us are the peaks called Rossstock and Fulen, and below them the very popular Schächental High Trail which starts near the Klausen Pass. 

Heading down the trail 

A look down at the town of Altdorf, and you can just see the south end of Lake Uri and the Reuss Delta

Enjoying the view. 

These farmers are raking the hay by hand instead of using a leaf blower. Both men were barefoot. I made a comment about it, and he said it saved on buying shoes!

A mistle-thrush

This view is up the Schächen Valley toward the Klausen Pass

Each farmhouse also has a barn

It is hard work harvesting hay on these steep slopes, but there is not much else you can do in these mountains

Another look straight across the valley. There are several cable cars on that side as well, to access the high trail

The sign says "Attention, Cable-Car", just in case you don't see it on the cable! We spoke to this farmer as well, he was just loading the hay into a blower into the top part of his barn. He told us he lives here all year round, and the cable car is convenient for trips into town!

House and barn

There is another cable car we haven't tried out yet, it goes straight up that section and you walk straight down past all the zigzags. That trail is called the Via Suvarov, in honor of the Russian General who traveled with his troops up this pass and into the Muotathal Valley on the other side. 

Up there is the summit station of the Eggenbergli cable car

Back down at the Schächen River and the valley station of the cable car. It was nice weather so we decided to walk another 1 hour down-river to catch the bus out (there are 3 other bus stops along the way!)

Schächen River looking up-valley

Some neat decorations along the forest trail next to the river. Fun for kids out walking

It was lovely and cool to walk in the forest next to the river

Here at this farm we deviated to an unofficial trail so that we would not have to walk on the road in the heat. 

For a while we could kind of see where the trail was, but later, when we got to a forested section, the trail either disappeared or was pretty damaged. 

It was a bit far to head back the way we had come, so we very carefully crossed the damaged part of the trail. To our right was a pretty steep drop. We're very glad we made it across safely!

The final five minutes were along the road, and even with our difficulties with the trail, we still finished this section in an hour. 

This is what our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps

There are many cable cars in the Schächen Valley, so we have access to a lot of hiking trails here. 

On our way out of the Schächen Valley by bus back to Altdorf, this is a look back at the town of Bürglen, the alleged birth place of William Tell (if in fact he was a real person and not just a story character)

One of my favourite views on this stretch of railway which we travel a lot. This is Lake Lauerz, and behind it the distinctive Mythen mountains. (Just before Arth Goldau Station).