Local Hike from Hausen a.Albis to Baar, and a Carnival Parade

March 3, 2019 -- Sunday, we were planning to return to Bellinzona for the large Rabadan Carnival Parade, but the day was so nice and the view to the mountains so clear, that we decided on a 9-km hike in our "backyard", ending up in the neighbouring town of Baar to watch the local parade there, which, although family-oriented and small-scale, still had some pretty nice "Guggen" bands (the term for the type of music played)

By the time we got to our starting point at Hausen a. Albis, a town not 10 km to the North of us, the air had become hazy and the view not as sharp as I had hoped, but this is some very nice pastoral landscape with a pretty amazing view of the lake and the Alps. It's an area where we have done a lot of hikes for this reason.

There is religious war history here as well: In the early 1500's Protestant Zurich moved into Catholic Zug, confiscating among other things the Catholic Monastery at Kappel, established by French Cistercian monks in 1185, and handing it over to the City of Zurich in 1527. In 1529, 4000 footsoldiers were ready to go to war in this area, but a peace treaty was negotiated, and during that time, the soldiers got together to partake of the legendary meal called "Milchsuppe" (Milk Soup), the site of which is commemorated near Ebertswil on the trail that we followed this time. 

Starting our walk in Hausen a. Albis, approx. 10 km to the North of where we live

Even with the hazy air, the mountains look fabulous

We walked eastward from Hausen to a little hamlet called Husertal with this very pretty framework farmhouse

 

From Husertal we headed South to a small rise where we had a coffee break, but it was uncomfortably windy

View from above Ebertswil across the city of Zug and Lake Zug. The view is all the way to Mounts Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps

The view from our picnic spot. There was a cold wind blowing though, so we didn't stay long

Heading through Ebertswil on the way to Baar

Lots of very pretty framework houses in this small village of Ebertswil

These two are showing who is the toughest!

In that copse of trees is the "Milchsuppenstein", a stone marker to commemorate the peace treaty between the Catholic and Reform Cantons of Zug and Zurich

Here at this spot in 1529,  4000 warring soldiers ate a peace meal together. 

The sky has clouded over, but the view is still amazing. We live near the tall building on the right.

Just before Baar we followed this stream before reaching the farmland outside the city

Ah, the most important part of the Carnival activities!

Parade participants dress up in all kinds of wacky costumes.

Young and old play in the bands. A lot of work goes into the practicing and costumes

Many of the floats are political and meant to pique interest in current issues

Lots and lots of confetti!

Each band has a theme. This one was "Highlanders"

This is the "Witches' Flying School"

25 years of Junior Drummers

VIDEO: Junior Drummers

Frogs is the theme here, I guess. They had special wooded tools that when rubbed together made croaking sounds

This is a cool float, carried by ONE person!

VIDEO: And the band that followed the boat

VIDEO: Guggenmusik Band from Interlaken

Another almost 10-km walk on this beautiful Sunday morning

Hiking the Flanks of Monte Carasso above Bellinzona

March 2, 2019 -- Forecast had for mostly sunny skies in the Ticino, and the cable car up to the top of Monte Carasso near Bellinzona had just opened for the season (although the restaurants up there only opened March 3rd, so good thing we brought a picnic along this time) but as it turned out, there was MUCH less sun (almost none) than expected, and a cold North wind blowing. Which makes for much less spectacular photos, but a nice hike nevertheless.

We started at the top-most station of the Monte Carasso/Mornera cable-car, where we ran into much more snow than expected (from the valley below, all the lower hills look snow-free) but soon descended into the snow-free section where we passed through forests and groupings of stone houses scattered around the eastern flank above Bellinzona. End of the hike was the second-highest stop of the cable car, where you actually have to "climb" the tower to get into the cable car as it passes by. (Same thing at the first intermediate stop).

Best part of the trip (besides the many signs of coming Spring: Daffodils, butterflies, lizards, magnolias, Japanese Cherries) was something you don't see in the photos: From Feb.28 to March 5th, the city of Bellinzona is celebrating the Carnival called Rabadan (2nd or 3rd largest Carnival in Switzerland) and we could hear the marching bands' music carrying all the way up the mountain. On our way back to the train station in Bellinzona at the end of our excursion we caught some of the festivities. Young and old dress up and dance in the streets to loud music. Key theme is CONFETTI!

(Side note: We were planning to return the next day, March 3rd, for the huge parade with floats and marching bands, but postponed this trip for another year).

Cable car approaching, to take us up to the top of the hill (weather looks promising, but didn't last long)

At the first intermediate stop, this is the hamlet called Curzutt. From here you can hike to the Tibetan suspension bridge (A hike we've done already)

On the way up, our cable car is just passing the second intermediate stop "Pientina". This is where we plan to get back on the cable car after our loop hike.

View across the Magadino Plain

We started in Mornera and walked to the various groupings of stone houses on the hillside, before returning to the second intermediate stop at Mornera for the ride back down

At the start of our hike in Mornera, there is more snow than we expected up here.

Soon enough, though, we left the snow behind. At this location called Monda is an "Agritourism" operation, closed for the winter, so we "borrowed" their picnic tables for our lunch

Lunch time, with the best view into the Mesolcino Valley (at the end of which is the San Bernardino Pass)

Not a lot of sun, but a nice view just the same!

Sign of spring: The early "Small Tortoiseshell" Butterfly

We walked back and forth across forest paths checking out the various little clusters of stone houses perched on the hillside.

Until 2007 this cable car was also in operation to transport people from the valley bottom to this little hamlet (Baltico) further North on the mountainside, but was unfortunately not updated since then.

People who have houses In Baltico and Tampori used to have direct access with the other cable car, now they have to walk from Pientina.

From up on the hill you get a good zoomed view of the beautiful Castel Grande at the heart of Bellinzona

It was very pleasant here in Tampori. Urs found a "better" fountain to fill up our water bottles at!

We very much enjoy walking through these villages of stone houses, admiring the craftsmanship.

It's also a very pleasant surprise when we come across something as interesting as a suspension bridge.

Looking down at the Ticino River

This is a bit of an "Upper Class" house in the woods high up on the mountainside!

All these signs of Spring, very exciting!

Another zoomed view into the valley below: Castel Grande below, and Castello di Montebello somewhat higher on the hillside above Bellinzona.

Castello di Montebello up close

I never tire of all the stone walls and buildings

And now to call the cable car to come pick us up! (Pientina, one of two intermediate stops on the Monte Carasso cableway)

It's kind of fun that you have to go up the tower to get into the cable car

On the way back down to the Magadino Plain

Passing Curzutt again on the way down (this is the other intermediary stop)

Back down at the main road, heading to the bus stop, we passed this very old building which still stands in the new residential area. The owner was just shearing his sheep

Freshly shorn sheep. Soon they will head up into the mountains as well!

Back in Bellinzona we caught some of the festivities. Main attraction is Confetti!

The next day the large Rabadan Parade with lots of floats and marching bands will pass through here. We were planning to attend, but changed our plans