A Hike with Relatives (Sister, Niece and Nephews) in the Leventina Valley

In August my sister came to visit (from Toronto) with a few of her kids, and we had wanted to do a spectacular hike somewhere high in the Alps, but Sunday August 21st dawned cold, foggy and rainy in the mountains, so we went for Plan B, a trip through the Gotthard Tunnel to just south of the main Alpine Range into the Leventina Valley, where the weather often is sunnier and warmer. Our hike was a relatively non-strenuous 7.5-km walk through some typical villages and chestnut forests in the Italian part of Switzerland. I'm sure all participants thought it was just great! At least it was warm...

Our visitors parked their rental car in Lavorgo and we set off on a climb up to the village of Chironico, which is a mixture of Valais-inspired wood-beam homes and the typical Ticinese Rustico Stone structures. 

Walking through the alleys of Chironico. 

This tower is called Torre Pedrino and probably dates from mid-13th century

After viewing the medieval church San Ambrogio with its frescoed interior (the church was first mentioned in literature in 1223), we headed to the ravine for a picnic lunch, and from there descended a steep path to the power plant. 

Interior of San Ambrogio, dates from mid-13th Century

Interior of San Ambrogio, dates from mid-13th Century

Parish Church San Maurizio, on the outskirts of Chironico

At the Ravine for a picnic lunch

Sister Selfie.

At the Ravine for a picnic lunch

At the power plant after a steep descent

At the power plant after a steep descent

From the Power Plant it was a long walk through chestnut forests, past another old church right in the forest (San Pellegrino, whose interior is full of mural art by a famous Italian Painer, Giovanni Battista Tarilli), past vineyards and old stone cellars, and then on to Giornico.

San Pellegrino Church in the middle of the Chestnut Forest.

Walking past the vineyards in Altirolo, heading to Giornico.

Family photo in Altirolo, near the stone cellars.

Stone Cellars built right into the rocks

Approaching Giornico.

In Giornico there are several churches of note, the first you come to is called Santa Maria del Castello because it was built on the ruins of the Castello di Santa Maria. We walked up to the ruins to get a view of the other two churches in the village below, but we ran out of time to see those. One is the "younger" parish church (first mentioned in 1210), and the other, San Nicolao, built in the later 1100's is considered the most impressive example of Lombard Romanesque architecture in Switzerland.

Santa Maria del Castello in Giornico

Jeffrey on the walls of the castle ruins. 

On the right is the parish church San Michele, and on the left, the older San Nicolao.

The village of Giornico in the Leventina Valley. (Part of the village is on an island in the middle of the Ticino River, and you have to cross two old roman arched stone bridges to get to the bus on the main road). 

From Giornico we all took the bus back to the car in Lavorgo, and while Urs and I headed home by train, the rest of the group drove OVER the Gotthard pass (too much traffic backed up at the tunnel) for a one-of-a-kind experience along the old Tremola Road.

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. 

Two-Day Vacation in the Popular Saas Valley - Part 2

Monday August 15, 2016 -- On August 14th (photos HERE) we hiked five hours (14 km) on a popular high trail in Canton Valais, from the "fork" of the Saas and Matter Valleys (the latter ends at the Matterhorn) all the way to the back of the Saas Valley, where we overnighted in a pleasant hotel with a very fancy breakfast buffet.

As this is mainly a ski area, and the summers are rather quiet, the tourist bureau offers special passes for anyone overnighting here, that you can ride the cable cars for free! Since there were plenty to choose from, we decided to ride two of them the next day before heading home: 

First up to an altitude of almost 3000m right into the snow where there is a popular glacier trail that is easy to navigate (we had time only to walk on it a few meters) to the viewing platform called Felskinn, from which the Swiss, not satisfied with their awesome cable car construction, decided they needed to tunnel a metro through solid mountain up to another revolving restaurant at 3457 m!

From there we headed back down into the valley for a ride up to over 3000m altitude where you supposedly can view the peaks of 18 mountains over 4000 meters! Except the clouds had moved in and the peaks were missing, but it was impressive just the same.

So it's a plan to return some other time when the sky is clear, and it can only get better! Maybe we'll ride the metro next time (that one's NOT free!)

Our wonderful hotel in Saas Fee, on the outskirts of this ski village.

Sitting on my balcony and admiring Mount Allalinhorn, where we are heading up after breakfast.

Heading up to Mount Allalinhorn, to a viewing platform at just about 3000m altitude.

The peak on the left is Mount Allalinhorn, it is just over 4000m. We are surrounded by several 4000+, including the highest mountain that is fully on Swiss territory, the DOM, which is to my right.

Glaciers and more glaciers, never cease to fascinate me.

First cable-car ride is to the viewing platform at Felskinn, 2991m altitude. (there is also a restaurant here). Later we headed back to Saas Grund and took another cable-car to Hohsaas. 

 

First ride with the Alpin Express Cable car to the viewing platform at 2991 meters below Mount Allalinhorn. Below is the village of Saas Fee.

The Swiss are extreme builders, giving access to rock and ice with their fantastic engineering feats.

This is the approach to the viewing platform.

This is a year-round skiing area, and there are still many ski fans up here, mid-summer.

Felskinn viewing platform (2991m) in the Saas Valley.

Felskinn viewing platform (2991m) in the Saas Valley.

Heading out a few meters onto the Fee glacier trail. No time for a hike today, we have to ride cable cars for free.

A short walk on the glacier 

A short walk on the glacier. You can keep going all the way to the Swiss Alpine Hostel Brittaniahütte. 

Back down in Saas Fee, we can see where we will head next, up to Hoh Saas, but the clouds are moving in.

First cable car ride from Saas Fee to Felskinn (2991m), the second from Saas Grund to Hoh Saas (3145m). The DOM peak is the highest mountain that is 100% on Swiss territory.

From our second cable car, we look into the Saas Valley to Saas Grund below, and Saas Fee on the upper plateau.

Hoh Saas Cable Car

 

Middle Station on the way to the top, Hoh Saas Cable Car.

This is simply breathtaking.

 

Heading up higher from the middle station to Hoh Saas, from which we should be able to see 18 peaks over 4000m.

How cool is it to be able to get up here without doing any work at all.... 

You can walk down to that little glacier lake. 

Somewhere in those clouds are 18 peaks over 4000 meters, and way behind them the Mont Blanc.

 

It was nice when the sun was out, but the clouds moved in quickly and then it was COLD!

 

To the North, beautiful glacier moraines, where a glacier also once resided and has now retreated.

 

One more look at the beautiful Mount Allalinhorn with the subway to the revolving restaurant, up on that white saddle somewhere.

As we descend, we get another view of where we walked the day before, looking North along the Saas Valley.