Trub to Trubschachen via Risisegg Crest, in the Napf Region of Central Switzerland

Sunday November 10, 2024 -- With Saturday a "day of rest" for me (Urs went to help his brother with garden work in Appenzell, and in retrospect I should have gone along, as the fog they had also been having in that region had lifted for the day, and it was actually a very nice day there!), on this Sunday we planned another small outing, having to keep our walking time to about two hours without much downhill.

With all this fog in the central part of Switzerland at this time of year, Sundays are a difficult day to plan for outings above the fog, as all the popular mountain regions will have loads of people accessing them for a sunny Sunday outing. So we chose an outing in the Emmental once again, where studies of the webcams showed that it would probably be free of fog. 

There is a popular themed trail called the "Grenzpfad Napfbergerland", which follows a 115-km long trail along the Napf region of central Switzerland, and a trail of which we have done several sections already. In September of 2021 we walked a section of Stage 3 of this trail (photos HERE) but descended earlier than originally planned (due to my frustration because the weather didn't play along). The place we descended to at the time is called Trub, and today seemed to be the ideal day to start there again, hike back up to the ridge trail, and continue down to Trubschachen which is the end of Stage 3.

It was ideal because the initial uphill climb was only 250 meters in elevation gain, and from there on it was a pleasant always slightly downhill walk on partly paved roads, with views of the mountains, cows in the pastures, and no fog. Ending the hike at the Kambly Cookie Factory means another session of free cookie samples and, with luck, an empty table for coffee in the overcrowded café sections of the shop, typical, unfortunately, for a Sunday afternoon there. 

All the way from home to Luzern and past Wolhusen we had fog, which started to let up before we reached Trubschachen. 

We got to Trubschachen at about 10:45 but had to wait there 30 minutes for the bus into the Fankhaus Valley. It was very cold there! Then it was an 8-minute bus ride to the village of Trub, where we started our hike at the north end of the village. These are some houses along the way.

We started our hike at the north end of the village. This house was one we passed when we ended the other hike in September 2021. 

Our hike started with an uphill climb partly in the shade of the forest, so it wasn't too hot and quite easy to climb. 

A look down the valley toward Trubschachen, where there is some fog moving in from the direction of Langnau (we had heard that this might be the case). What this means for us is possibly having to walk down into the fog at the end of our hike.

And from above, a zoomed view of the village of Trub. The bus leaving Trubschachen was actually more full than we had expected and we wondered why. We thought those people were headed to the end of the valley from where they would walk up to the summit of Mt. Napf. But they all descended here. From the look of the full parking lot, there must be an event going on this Sunday!

One of the options we had considered for this day was a walk along the river between Langnau and Trubschachen, and based on all that fog there, we are glad we chose to come into this side valley instead!

We started our hike at the north end of the village of Trub at 11:20 and climbed up to the crest trail (Trail no.65: "Grenzpfad Napfbergerland") which took us about 45 minutes. We stopped at a farmhouse at Risiseggknubel for our picnic lunch. The whole hike was about 2½ hours. We got to the Kambly Cookie factory at about 2 p.m.  

As we got to the crest, we had a view of this mountain to the east, which I think is called Fürstein, a summit we climbed from the other side, and walked down on this side. (Photos HERE)

There was a bench in front of the farmhouse at Risiseggchnubel, and it looked like no one was home, so we "borrowed" the bench for our 15-minute lunch break. 

Taking a lunch break here for about 15 minutes arond noon time. It was almost too hot here in the sun, next to the warm house wall!

This was our view from the bench where we had our picnic lunch. The air was hazy, but we could make out Mounts Eiger and Mönch on the right, plus the distinctive horn called Schibegütsch at the south end of the Schrattenflue Massif. 

Heading off on our hike again after a small break here. 

To the south are the Bernese Alps, namely Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, with the saddle called Jungfraujoch on the right. 

It was a nice walk, as there were only a handful of other people walking along this road. The cows have free use of the road here too. There WERE several cars which passed us, though, which was surprising, as there doesn't seem to be anything but farms up here. (Maybe an event at a farm?) 

The cows are always so curious.

We have come quite a ways south now, so we have to look behind us now to the village of Trub, where we started our hike. These are the lovely hills of the Napf Region. 

Another close-up look at the village of Trub in the Fankhaus Valley. 

And another look at the Bernese Alps to the south. 

Farmers are glad that the cows can still graze and don't have to be fed the hard-earned hay yet. 

I think the cows are very happy to still be out enjoying the fresh air as well!

Middle of November and we can do a "mountain" walk with the sound of the cowbells. 

These are the kinds of walks I like to do in winter, because the landscape is still so green. 

The smallest people are already out hiking! (They did put her in the baby carrying back-pack for the final downhill stretch!)

The pointed peak left of center is called the Finsteraarhorn and is the highest mountain in the Bernese Alps. 

Following Route no.65: "Grenzpfad Napfbergerland", we have another 35 minutes to go to descend to Trubschachen. 

Heading down the hill now toward Trubschachen. NO MORE FOG!!!

Along the way we pass some very pretty Emmental-Style houses. 

Along the way we pass some very pretty Emmental-Style houses. 

These small buildings are called Spycher, and were originally used to store grain in the bottom part, and as a secondary small apartment for older family members at the top. 

Another lovely large Emmental-Style house, with the secondary house called a Spycher. 

Further along the road we passed another small Spycher on a farm called Schwand. 

Heading across the Schwand pastures, this rooster was crowing like crazy. A late riser, you might say, as it was now almost 2 p.m. (Like the rooster in the story of how the Canton Border between Uri and Glarus was determined in 1315...)

A view across the rooftops of Trubschachen, where we caught the bus into the Fankhaus Valley at 11:15, and will catch the train back home after coffee and cookies at the Kambly Factory!

Our hike ends at the Kambly factory at about 2 p.m., now already in shadow. We do a lot of hiking in this region, and when possible, stop by here after the hikes for coffee and free cookies!

The factory produces a large variety of cookies (mostly with chocolate) as well as crackers and other healthy cookies, all of which you can sample for free. The cookies are also sold in bulk for cheaper than the specially-packaged ones for the stores. On this day the shop was PACKED (typical for a Sunday), and the ladies were rushing to fill all the sampling boxes as they emptied quickly! We were very lucky to have been able to grab an empty table for two. All the other tables were taken. 

This is what our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. We started at a bus stop just north of the village of Trub, and walked across the Bisisegg crest and back down to Trubschachen. It was a short walk of less than three hours, but with lots of sunshine and no fog. 

All the hikes we have done in the Napf region around Trubschachen and Escholzmatt. 

Location of the Napf region in Switzerland. 

This is an example of what happens on a Sunday in Switzerland when the low-lands are covered in fog. All the people head into the mountains, like here in Kriens (Luzern) at the gondola cable-way to Mount Pilatus. We have had to stand here in line on a nice day before, but never more than about five people on the left! This is outrageous! And this is why we always try to think of places to go on a nice Sunday where we expect the least amount of other people. 

In the Emmental/Entlebuch Napfberg Region, from Bramboden to Trub

Saturday September 18, 2021 -- After the very long hike we did the day before, this outing was supposed to be a stroll in the rolling hills of the Emmental/Entlebuch not too far from home. We had been to the Napfberg region before, and rather enjoyed walking along part of the Alpine Panorama Trail there, and admiring the beautiful farms tucked into the dips and perched on the hills, and we wanted another similar experience. (Those photos are HERE). We chose to do a section of the "Grenzpfad Napfbergerland", or "Napf Mountain Border Trail" to the East of the popular Napf Mountain (this trail is right along the border of Canton Luzern and Canton Bern). To gain access to the ridge trail, we took a little bus from Schüpfheim to Bramboden, as this bus runs only on weekends. (We took the same bus a year ago to walk the Wood Coal Trail (those photos are HERE), and at that time the bus was packed... this time there were only five of us, what a pleasure).

The excursion started well, with the bus driver handing out coupons for a free drink at the hotel (marketing effort to get people interested in this little-known area), so we lounged on the restaurant terrace for a while enjoying a coffee, before starting on our hike. But the day soon became overcast with low clouds and very little view of the mountains to the South, and the lovely rolling hills I had wanted to enjoy were only seldom visible on this trail which was predominantly through thickly forested areas.

Furthermore, what should have been a short easy hike ended up being another 14-kilometer and 4.5-hour walk, with many uphill sections as well... I was very tired and we probably should have descended the ridge sooner, but I really wanted to attain our goal of reaching the village of Trub, which Urs said was particularly pretty.

In the end, this wasn't one of my favourite hikes...but looking at my photos now, there are so very many pretty ones just the same!

This area of rolling hills is actually in the Entlebuch region of Canton Luzern. This is the view from Bramboden, the start of our hike, looking Southeast. Normally, we should see the Alps from here. 

Enjoying a free coffee in Bramboden, thanks to our bus driver!

Right next to the hotel is the little church in Bramboden. We usually pop into each church we pass, to see if there are some particularly nice features or artwork of some kind. 

This church had a very interesting wooden ceiling. I always admire the ceilings. 

The day actually started nice with some blue skies, and we were hopeful that we might soon see some of the mountains to the South. 

Being watched again as we walk past

Clouds are gathering to the South. It was cold without the sun.

A fantastic maple tree!

An hour and 3 kilometers from Bramboden we finally reached Trail no.65: "Napfbergerland Grenzpfad" (and the border of Cantons Luzern and Bern). It would have been shorter to head North to Mt. Napf, and descend to the bus from there. But there were more clouds to the North, and our plan was to head South. 

Right in the middle of the meadow along the trail is a the little shop set up by the nearby farm. They were offering ice cream, which Urs could not resist. Also, he bought cheese. 

Lower down is the first farm we passed. (Probably the one who set up the little self-serve shop). Most notably is that Mt. Napf to the North is hidden in clouds. No point in going there...

The trail heads into the forest. 

A rare view when we were not in the forest! We had just exited from a long and boring section along a forestry road, and sat here to have lunch and enjoy this view. 

These are the kinds of farms which dot the meadows in this rolling hilly landscape

The Emmental is actually a very pretty region. Our hike was actually not as easy as we'd expected, as we were doing a lot of up-and-down walking! 

Something to break the monotony a bit!

Finally we got some of the sunshine that the weather forecast had actually promised! This view is in the direction of Mt. Rigi, which is also hidden in the clouds. 

Finally down in the valley we reach the village of Trub, and got to admire some of the typical Emmental houses here. 

This is a really cute house!

"Downtown" Trub

Such an unusual addition built onto the little church in Trub!

There are some really fantastic and wonderful buildings here!

In particular we always enjoy these little structures called "Spycher", which were originally built for storage but also as residences when older farmers passed on the family business to their children, who then took over the larger farm houses. 

In the end, our "short walk" turned out to be a 14-kilometer hike, with a total of more uphill meters than some of our mountain hikes! The "Border Trail" we walked is exactly that, the border between Cantons Luzern and Bern.