To the Top of Monte San Salvatore

Saturday, November 12, 2016 -- As of about a week, there is lots of snow at elevations above 1000m, so until the winter walking trails are officially prepared, we are relegated to flatland hikes to the North, or steeper mountain hikes way in the South, in the Ticino, where we like to go anyway, and where as of December 11th with the official opening of the new Gotthard Base Tunnel to public transportation we will be able to get there in way less time, so YEAH!

On this Saturday we traveled to Lugano to climb the "House Mountain" Monte San Salvatore. We usually don't climb, but take cable cars or funiculars if possible, but this was something I wanted to tackle (funicular isn't running in winter anyway) and since the climb was on the shady side of the mountain, we walked fast to keep warm and made the summit (600 altitude meters) in 1.5 hours instead of the 2 hours it usually takes.... (more below)

Monte San Salvatore is the pyramid-like peak in the center, as seen from Monte Brè. This is basically the same lighting we had on today's hike.

The start of the hike is along the funicular tracks. We were on Monte Brè in Jan.2016.

From this vantage point, Monte San Salvatore doesn't look so high!

On the way up the only sun we got was on the East Side of the Mountain.

On the way up the only sun we got was on the East Side of the Mountain.

Once we got to the top, there were several look-out points from which one could alternately see the entire Lugano Lake basin, the Italian Alps, and all the way to Canton Valais in the West to the Monte Rosa Massif, where the highest peak in the Swiss Alps (Dufour Peak, 4,634 metres (15,203 ft)) is located. 

Very windy look-out point NE to Monte Brè and the Italian Alps to the East

To the West, the Monte Rosa Massif in Canton Valais, with the highest peak (Dufour Spitze) in the Swiss Alps.

At this lookout point, we stopped for our picnic lunch (out of the wind)

At this lookout point, we stopped for our picnic lunch (out of the wind)

At this lookout point, we stopped for our picnic lunch (out of the wind)

This is the view from the spot we stopped for our picnic lunch

This is the official summit of Monte San Salvatore, with the first of six Churches along the "Trail of 6 Churches"

View South along Lake Lugano. We are very close to the Italian Border here.

View South along the San Salvatore Ridge, where we will continue our hike. 

From here we walked South across the ridge through a couple of villages, and instead of ending our hike in Carona (there is a bus there) at the top, we decided to finish the 6-Church Trail by descending on the West of the ridge to the valley below, to catch the bus back to Lugano. In total it was a 14 km hike in just a little over 4 hours, with lots of sunshine, but at this time of year, the shadows hit early in the valley bottoms, so we basically have to finish our hikes by 4 pm. 

14-km hike, 600 altitude meters, 4 hours

Much of the rest of our hike is through woods, with a few clearings and a couple of villages.

Much of the rest of our hike is through woods, with a few clearings and a couple of villages.

This little village of Ciona has the second oldest church on the 6-Church Trail.

Several of the buildings in Ciona had working sun clocks! And a lizard heading for shelter on the wall.

In the village of Carona, we stopped for Macchiato, and decided to keep hiking on the 6-Church Trail

In the village of Carona

The six churches on the "Trail of 6 Churches"

(Along the 6-Church Trail, these are the six churches in the order we saw them: 1. Monte San Salvatore, 2: Ciona, 3: Church on North side of Carona, 4: Santa Marta on Carona village outskirts South side, 5: Madonna d'Ongero in the middle of the forest South of Carona, 6: Torello, in a clearing on the way down the mountain to Figino)

Church at Torello just above Figino

Church at Torello just above Figino

Nearing the valley bottom on the West side of the San Salvatore Range

One more church in the valley bottom... for good measure

And one last view of Monte San Salvatore, which still has sun although we are already in shadow

A Favourite Hike High above the Reuss Valley

November 2, 2016 -- Wednesday is a day off for both of us, and maybe we can squeeze in one last hike in the Alps before the weekend rain and subsequent snowfall....

Not far from where we live is the mountain in the Reuss Valley where Urs' Dad and Granddad grew up, and we hike there at least once a year, going up a very steep hillside first with a tiny cable car (barely holds four, seated) and then walking along the hillsides where dotted here and there are farms and homes where his relatives still live. Each time we go we vary the tour a little bit, usually by walking a different trail back down into the Reuss Valley.

This is a hike that we usually take our out-of-country visitors on because it gives you a little bit of everything in the Alps: Cable cars, views of high peaks and steep valleys, mountain lakes, pastures and mountain farms, contact with the locals and a view into the hard life of the mountain farmer. And a solid hike that gives you that feeling of having achieved something good... And some Swiss cows if you are lucky.

Heading up by cable car to Arni Lake, this is the view into the Reuss River Valley.

Tiny cable car from Amsteg barely holds four people, sitting room only.

For a switch we first walked North from the cable car station, to Voderarni. Urs talks with locals because he knows a lot of people up here. Weather is looking iffy, we weren't sure when the rain was coming.

It's cold up here, the wind blows over the ridge.

Ah, finally, clearing up a bit and some sun before the rain.

Heading South again on our familiar trail toward Arni Lake.

Heading South again on our familiar trail toward Arni Lake.

This is Barbara, we meet her here every time. Sometimes we help with the work, otherwise we buy homemade cheese and yoghurt at her little mountain cabin where they live in the summer.

This is an ANT HILL (The sign reads "Ant Hill")

Pretty little Arni Lake. Also a favourite winter destination.

This is the "Lunch Bench". It is our tradition to eat our picnic lunch here, or in the meadow just below here.

This is the "Lunch Bench". It is our tradition to eat our picnic lunch here, or in the meadow just below here.

View from the picnic lunch bench.

Looking South into the Reuss Valley. No rain yet.

Usually we walk to Gurtnellen, but today it will be Intschi, after visiting a cousin at the family home.

The old family home. About 10 kids grew up here, maybe 70-80 years ago.

I'm getting the Evil Eye.

On our way to Intschi back in the valley, we pass the grandfather's old homestead.

That's one big rock that fell down the mountain a long time ago

And the rain just started as we got to our destination. There's a bus stop and a cable car station here.

 

12 km, 3.5 hours

One half of the Gommer High Trail

November 1, 2016 -- Here in Switzerland the 1st of November is a holiday for Catholic provinces, which includes the one where I work and the one where Urs works, so on this beautiful Tuesday we headed once again into the mountains smack dab in the center of the Alps.

The Goms Valley which stretches from the Furka Pass to Brig is a popular valley in winter for cross-country skiing as it has a wide, flat valley bottom and lots of sun. Of course there are many popular hiking trails including the Gommer High Trail, a total of 25 km along the North side of the Valley, which you can hike in two portions. This day we did the upper portion (Münster to Oberwald), 12 km in 4 hours, an easy trail on this pleasant late fall afternoon.

Interesting note: This valley is really peaceful as far as vehicle traffic goes, as the road over the Furka Pass is closed in winter and motor vehicles must load onto the train if they want to get to/from the Ursuren Valley to the Northeast.

Heading toward the Goms Valley through the Ursuren Valley near Andermatt. This cluster of homes is called Zumdorf, the smallest village in Switzerland.

Heading along the valley bottom (in the Goms Valley) toward our starting village of Münster, this is the hillside that we will be hiking. (This is the town of Geschinen)

Start of our hike in Münster, looking SW along the Goms Valley.

Typical Valais stalls converted to homes, in the village of Münster.

The hike starts with a 30-min. uphill climb to where the trail levels out for the next hour, before some more uphill.

View SW along the Goms Valley.

From just above the town of Münster (half hour uphill to the High Trail) we walked another 3.5 hours NE to Oberwald. (Total 12 km).

Gommer High Trail above Münster, about the half-way point of the entire 25-km trail. We are heading NE from Münster.

Many benches along the way where we can picnic.

View from our lunch/picnic bench.

Along the Gommer High Trail looking to the northeastern part of the valley (we are headed up valley in this direction).

Across the valley is the Nufenen Pass, probably already closed due to snow. This pass accesses the Italian part of Switzerland to the SE (also Italy across those mountains).

Along the Gommer High Trail in the Valley.

Along the Gommer High Trail in the Valley. There are lovely birch groves here, along with the yellowing larches.

Below is the airport at Ulrichen in the wide flat and sunny Goms Valley.

The Gotthard-Matterhorn Railway runs through the valley, parallel to the Rhone River.

Our destination: Oberwald (popular in winter for cross-country skiing). From here the train goes through the Furka base tunnel, and vehicles must load onto the trains.