Morning Walk on our Local Mountain, Mount Zug (Zugerberg)

Monday June 17, 2024 -- The weather forecast tricked us today.... It was supposed to be an overcast day, so we had no plans (also, because we were going away for a 2-day trip the next day), but as the day dawned beautiful, we decided short-notice on a trip up our local mountain as it only takes about 40 minutes to get up there with the Zugerberg funicular. That way we could still do a decent hike down the mountain before the weather turned.

Before we got to the top, though, the sky clouded over, but we still had some nice views especially of our lake. We have walked on our mountain often, but this day chose a descent on a forest trail we had never been before. We were pleasantly surprised at how nice the trail was, a narrow dirt path which crossed many small streams, and wasn't too dark. We also crossed the funicular line twice on the way down, so could watch as the wagons climbed and descended the track. 

The only drawback was that we just happened to choose the same time for this trip as a couple of classes of children (about Grade 4?) who were very loud and noisy, tough for me in a small enclosed space! Luckily they went a different way when we got to the top.

We were back home before lunchtime, but then in the afternoon, the weather cleared up and it became a very nice day after all. That's the way it goes sometimes!

This is where the Zugerberg funiculars cross on the way up and down the mountain. We passed over that bridge later on our walk back down to the base station of the Funicular, and watched the train from there. 

Lots of kids on this run up the mountain at about 10 a.m. There are always lots of class outings all over the country. These kids went a different way at the top, luckily. 

The view of the city of Zug from below the top station of the funicular. 

We started down a road to a trail we hadn't walked before, but decided to go up again in the hope of getting a view of the mountains, which were very visible this morning, and then return to the road below from the left. In the background on the left is Mt.Pilatus, Luzern's local mountain. 

It was just going to be a short walk on our local mountain this morning, but we still managed over 8 kilometers! We started at the top station of the Zugerberg funicular at 10:10, and got down to the base station again at about 12:50.

Another look at the city from a bit higher up, from next to the Montana International High School located up here on the mountain. 

Walking past the Institut Montana (heading south), an international high school located up here on the mountain. 

More young ones watching us walk past. 

We couldn't see the mountains after all from the higher elevation, but did get glimpses on our way back down again. In just 30 minutes the sky had become overcast. 

When the cows block our trail, we usually make detours around them... 

It was turning into a hot day, and the cows preferred not to stand around in the sun. 

The first time crossing the funicular railway tracks as we head north again lower down. You can see the upper station from here. 

Mount Zugerberg is a popular starting point for paragliders. 

There are also many pastures up here on the mountain. As this was one rare day with no rain, the farmers were busy out here cutting and drying the meadow grass. 

Farm houses on Mount Zugerberg

Farmers are busy out cutting and drying the grass. Too bad the sky became overcast so quickly (it was cloudless and blue not two hours earlier) as we can even see to the north face of Mount Eiger from here. On some days, the Bernese Alps appear quite close. 

The north face of Mount Eiger is looking very close today (It's that mountain half covered in clouds). Such a shame that the sky has become overcast so quickly! We should have headed out much earlier, as soon as we saw that the day dawned clear, not what we expected at all.

There are lots of very nice trails to walk on our local mountain. 

Heading downhill again with a view of our city in the background. 

A mountain restaurant called "Wirtschaft zum Blasenberg", with a nice outdoor terrace. We figure it would really be a smart thing to try this out some time, being so local! But not this day. 

A look across the roofs of old-town Zug from the Blasenberg restaurant. 

We checked out their little shop, but didn't buy anything this time. (Mostly sirups, jams, salad dressings, ointments etc. which we don't buy).  

From the Blasenberg Restaurant we headed south again through a forested area with many bridges and very comfortable trodden paths. It was much nicer than we expected, and we met no other people here. 

More bridges crossing many streams. 

And now we've reached the bridge where the funiculars crossed. A funicular run was just happening at this time (they run every 30 minutes) so we watched from here. 

Zugerberg funicular on its way up the mountain.

VIDEO:

Zug funicular cabins crossing.

I waved to the people in the funicular, and they waved back!

Many streams to cross. 

A lovely morning walk through the forests on our local mountain.

Now we've reached one of the paved roads along this mountainside, but it was not much longer from here to the bottom station of the funicular, which was the end of our hike (from there we could take buses back home again). 

An interesting picnic spot (there was a fellow just preparing the outdoor grill.....). At these stations you can turn the cranks on those metal drums to activate the flow of water into the fountains. This shows how much force is required to activate the pumps!

More lovely-smelling linden trees! I am so happy that we were able to experience many flowering linden trees this year. 

This is what our hike looks like on Google Satellite maps. We started at the top station of the Zugerberg funicular, and ended at the botton station, crossing the line twice along the way. 

We have walked many times on our local mountain. The funicular is nice to give the city people access to the local mountain. 

From our apartment we can see the area that we walked in this day, including the Institut Montana at the top of the mountain.