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.

Hiking along the Irrigation Channels near Sierre

October 30, 2016 -- Canton Valais has less rain than other parts of Switzerland, and hundreds of years ago the farmers painstakingly dug channels, built up mountain flanks, and attached wooded flumes to vertical cliff walls at great risk in order to bring the water from the mountains to their meadows lower in the valleys. These channels go by the name of "Suonen" in German and "Bisses" in French. 

The area around Sierre was the origin of these irrigation systems in the 14th and 15th centuries. The trails along this extensive network of channels were originally used for maintenance of the water system, but have since been converted to hiking trails, although most of the channels are still in use.

After our day in the Val d'Anniviers on Saturday and overnight in the B&B in Mayoux, we started our day with a short walk along the Bisse St.Jean, a 3-km irrigation channel between the two towns of Mayoux and St.Jean. From there we took the bus out of the valley to Sierre and walked along the Bisse Neuf and Bisse de Varen above the beautiful vineyards of the Rhone Valley. It was another wonderful fall day for this 13-km, 3.5-hour walk, although for me a bit too chilly as most of it was through wooded areas. End of our hike was in the village of Salgesch, known as the home of the Grand Cru wine label and 30 wineries. 

We spent the night at a B&B in Mayoux, in the Val d'Anniviers

Before leaving the Val d'Anniviers, we had time for a 3-km walk along the St.Jean irrigation channel to the next town.

Walking in the Anniviers Valley to the next town of St.Jean

Along the St.Jean irrigation channel in the Val d'Anniviers

Along the St.Jean irrigation channel in the Val d'Anniviers. There was a freshly born calf lying on the trail. We reported it and it was reunited with its herd.

Leaving the Anniviers Valley, we look down on Sierre and the hill where we will do our day hike.

After coming back out of the Val d'Anniviers, we headed up from Sierre with the Funicular to the starting point of our hike, then walked first along Bisse Neuf, then Bisse de Varen, and descended through the vineyards of Salgesch, famous for its wine production. (Home of Grand Cru Label, with over 30 wineries)

Funicular from Sierre to Darnona

Across the Rhone Valley we can see where we hiked the day before, up high in the Val d'Anniviers

To the East, the Rhone Valley and the Vineyards of Salgesch

Our 13-km hike is mostly along the two irrigation channels "Bisse Neuf" and "Bisse de Varen"

Along the Bisse Neuf irrigation channel

Along the Bisse Neuf irrigation channel

All along the channels are sluices to control the water flow

View to Salgesch below, the goal of our day's hike.

First comes a steep descent through forests before reaching the vineyards of Salgesch.

This view into the Rhone Valley shows not only the beautiful vineyards with fall colours, but also a large expanse of virgin forest in the flat area below. This nature reserve is called the Pfyn Forest and is one of Europe's last large pine forests.

Vineyards of Salgesch

Those are BIG Ehringer bulls! (Don't want to meet them on our hike).

Vineyards of Salgesch

Vineyards of Salgesch

Vineyards of Salgesch

Vineyards of Salgesch

Back in the Rhone Valley: Above are two lines of trees marking irrigation channels. We walked along the upper one. 

Salgesch, home of 30 wineries