Hiking in Switzerland – Gabrielle and Urs

January 18, 2017

Affluent Ascona

January 18, 2017 -- We had really been wanting to go on a long winter walk high up in the middle of the Alps, but although the forecast was for lots of sun, temperatures were at -15 degrees with a fairly strong and cold NE wind, so the obvious choice was to go South again.

South of the Gotthard Tunnel had also received snow, and even though the further South you go the less snow remains, at Lake Maggiore near Locarno there was still a smattering left on the shady spots (also slick and icy) and for this area also cold at about +6 degrees, although still better than -15!

On the Maggia Delta just across the river from Locarno is the lovely lakeside town of Ascona, popular with tourists in summer and a magnet for wealthy people, as it is almost like living on the Italian Riviera... in fact, from here it is only 10 km to the Italian border.

We only did a little walk this time, 5 km high along the West Shore of the lake above Ascona, an area I had not been before. Somehow it reminded me a little of Hollywood. But very pretty and so much to see!

Highlights were a villa for sale for about $8M and a restaurant in Ascona that sells cheeseburges and fries for about $30: An American diner with definitely non-American prices! (It claims to be the place to see and be seen!)

The "Riviera" as seen from the other side of the lake (Monte Gambarogno)

Relatively short walk this day, 1.5 hours, 5 km, from Ronco to Ascona

On our train ride from home to the South, the sun is shining but it's COLD!

Heading up with the bus toward Ronco, this is a typical church structure

From Ronco overlooking the Maggia Delta to the North (our destination)

The reluctant photographer.

So many palm trees here. These are special palms that can withstand low temperatures.

Below is the Church at Ronco, where we started our hike. View South along Lago Maggiore to Italy.

View North to the Maggia Delta and Ascona.

There was snow here and it still remains in the shady spots.

Lots of high end homes here.

Lots of villas and high end homes here.

This villa was for sale for about $6-8M

A little Robin Redbreast on our path

A whole series of stairs took us down through the properties to the lakeshore.

Near the lakeshore on Lago Maggiore

Ascona on Lago Maggiore, with Ronco on the hill in the back.

Approaching Ascona.

Ascona on Lake Maggiore

Ascona

In Ascona

In this restaurant called Papa Joe's, you can buy American Burgers for about $30

January 4, 2017

Monte Cimetta above Locarno, and a hike to Mergoscia

Monday January 4, 2016 -- Just as we got our first snow North of the Alps and forecast for cold cold weather, we got in one more real hike in the South, in the area where we have been doing lots of hiking lately.

Locarno's local mountain is called Cimetta, and its highest point (1670m), is reachable by funicular, cable car and lastly a chair lift.... in normal years it also snows up here, but this year there is only a little snow and ice left on the North side of the hills from an early October snow.

We quickly changed our original plans to climb the higher mountain behind it, for fear of finding ourselves on icy trails (plus the wind was really cold up here), and decided to stay on the sunny side walking along the flank to a little gathering of buildings called Monti di Lego before heading down the mountain to Brione above Locarno. Amazingly, it's almost like spring here, so balmy, and the japanese cherries are blossoming.

As soon as spring really rolls around though, we are going up again, up the higher mountain....

First we take the funicular from near Locarno train station to Orselina, then a cable car to Cardada, then a chair lift to Cimetta.

The beautiful Madonna del Sasso (Madonna of the Rock) Church in Orselina. From here we continue by cable car.

Below is Cardada, we are on the way to Cimetta on the Chair Lift.

We have hiked all over those hills behind me in the last couple of years. To the left is the Centovalli, to the right at the back is the Onsernone Valley, and right behind me is the Maggia Valley.

View from Cardada-Cimetta, top photo is to the West, bottom photo to the South.

Below left is the Maggia Delta in Locarno, and this is Lago Maggiore

From the viewing platform: On the left is the mountain we had wanted to hike up today, but we were unsure if the paths were icy on the North side. So we went down along the flank of Mount Drosa instead, and walked to Monti di Lego before walking back down into the valley.

Below is Alpe Cardada, a restaurant and hostel. From there we continue to Monti di Lego.

Along the way are a couple of other groupings of Rustico homes.

Arriving at the clearing that is called Monti di Lego.

Chapel at Monti di Lego

At Monti di Lego. The view across the Maggia Delta is wonderful.

Chapel at Monti di Lego

Building with Lego at Monti di Lego! (Lego in Italian means to join together)

It was so peaceful and balmy here, we didn't want to leave.

From Monti di Lego you can also look North into the Verzasca Valley. Our original plan was to walk to Mergoscia, the village straight ahead, but that meant an hour on the shady side of the mountain, so we changed plans again and walked down to Brione (Locarno) on the South side of the Mountain.

Descending through the forests, we pass a couple of mountain hamlets.

Most of the 700m descent is through the Ticino Beech and Chestnut forests.

This interesting boulder along the historical trail is one of the most important rock carvings discovered in the entire Alps, with its 224 carved crosses. Experts are not quite certain about its meaning, probably a way to claim the area as Christian territory.