A Hike down Mt. Kronberg in Canton Appenzell

Wednesday April 20, 2022 -- We really wanted to get into the mountains again, and the weather forecast for Appenzell in eastern Switzerland was good, so we took a cable car up the local mountain called Kronberg where I had not yet been, and walked down the mountain to Weissbad, an easy 3.5-hour and 11-km descent. There was still lots of snow and it was cold when we started, but it was nice to be up close to the mountains again. 

Highlights were the snow-covered peaks of the Alpstein Massif, the sighting of the first gentians of the season, and when we got to Weissbad (where we had been informed that the Rehabilitation Clinic there had a very nice outdoor restaurant terrace) we treated ourselves to ice cream sundaes (this has become a bit of a tradition) with enough time to make it to the the 15:20 train. We even got home at an early hour! (ca. 6 p.m.). 

We have done a lot of hiking in this area, and it is nice to see where we've previously been, viewed from a different angle.

Heading up to the summit of Mt.Kronberg by cable car from Jakobsbad below

At the summit of Mt. Kronberg, the view to the northwest

A look at the outliers of the Alpstein Massif, and the Churfirsten mountains beyond. On a different occasion, we have walked along that first ridge below, when we hiked from Schwägalp to Urnäsch in 2017. Those photos can be viewed HERE

Some very impressive cow bells on display in the Kronberg Restaurant (I didn't want to have the lady's face on the photos, so she looks like she's inside the bell!)

Heading off on our hike from the restaurant / cable car station to walk eastward down the mountain.

Panorama view of Mt. Säntis and the Alpstein Massif

A relatively easy 3.5-hour walk (11 km) down Mt. Kronberg to Weissbad. 

Heading east along the ridge down Mt. Kronberg. In the back are two other hills which we have to cross along before heading into the valley bottom. 

Down below is the St.Jakob's Chapel. On the north side of the summit, i.e. more to the left and 15 minutes from the chapel are "curative" springs called "Jakobsquelle".

The first mountain flowers!

It's unusual to see daffodils in the wild

A look back at the summit of Mr. Kronberg, where we descended from

We found a good place for our picnic lunch

This was the view from our picnic spot (tripod set up where we were sitting)

A large part of the trail was on such farming roads. Note: In the background on the left is Mt. Kronberg, where we started

Several times we had to cross fences like this

Final descent to Weissbad below. In the background is the mountain called Hoher Kasten, from where we have also done ridge hikes

Walking down to Weissbad with the Hoher Kasten peak ahead of us. 

And a reward for finishing another hike: Ice Cream Sundaes!

Crossing the Brüelbach River to the train station. 

A very unusual outcropping in the Alpstein Massif

The trail down the Kronberg Mountain

Another area where we have done a lot of hiking

The region of Switzerland where Mt.Kronberg is located

Hiking from Rüeggisberg to Schwarzenburg in the Gantrisch Nature Park

Monday, April 18th, 2022 -- Easter Monday was another nice day for doing a hike, so this time we went to Canton Bern into the heart of the Gantrisch Nature Park, to get closer to the mountains. 

We chose to continue on another section of National Trail no.3: Alpine Panorama Trail, starting near where we have hiked the Gürbentaler High Trail on a previous occasion (those photos are HERE) and continuing westward toward Schwarzenburg. Besides wanting some views of the mountains, the main reason for doing this stretch is because we had read that in the gorge where the Schwarzwasser River flows are two special bridges built by the Swiss master bridge builder Robert Maillart in the 1930's that are supposedly the oldest still standing concrete arch bridges in the world. (I always like to see "the oldest", "the longest", "the tallest"... especially "in the world"!!!)

The weather was pleasant, the landscape pastoral, and the information we gleaned on Robert Maillart quite interesting. Up until his time, bridges had to be big and heavy and mostly made of stone, and the communities did not trust his "new-fangled" light and graceful steel-reinforced concrete bridges, so when he was commissioned to build his bridges, they were usually in out-of-the-way places, which is probably why they are still standing today! Robert Maillart is considered one of the most influential engineers of the 20th Century. 

More information on this Swiss civil engineer who revolutionized the use of structural reinforced concrete can be found HERE. 

We got off the bus at the Restaurant "Bütschelgschneit", which we had passed on our previous hike here. But from here we headed West toward Rüeggisberg

A peek at the Bernese Alps to the southeast

We are heading to Mättiwil and Rüeggisberg. The trail here is part of both the Alpine Panorama Trail no.3 and the St.James Trail no.4

Over 13 km along the Alpine Panorama Trail in the Gantrisch Nature Park. Originally we had planned to walk to the train station in Schwarzenburg, but after almost four hours of walking, we had had enough, and took the bus just short of the city

Just above Mättiwil we found a bench with a view. This is South to the Gantrisch Range

Our trail takes us through a small village called Mättiwil

Approaching Mättiwil

Emmental-style houses

A look behind us at the famous trio of mountains: "Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau", as we head to Rüeggiswil

St.Martin's Church in Rüeggisberg: First documented 1148 as property of the nearby monastery, it was damaged in a fire in 1532 and then rebuilt a few years later. 

Another view toward the Bernese Alps

The old monastery ruins

A look across the rooftops of Rüeggisberg as we head up the hill

The hiking trails often pass right through (or under!) private properties! This is actually a public road for vehicles

This is the landscape of the Gantrisch Nature Park as we head westward

A final look at the mountains to the East.

A good spot for a coffee break

The trail leading down the mountain to Robert Maillart's two bridges: Schwandbach Bridge and Rossgraben Bridge

This sign warns us that flocks of sheep are guarded by herd dogs, and we must respect them. 

We are still enjoying some blossoming trees.

Through a sun-dappled section of forest

We have arrived at the Schwandbach Bridge, built in 1933. The other bridge, Rossgrabenbrücke, is next on the trail, 10 minutes from here.

The Schwandbach Bridge, built in 1933, is one of the oldest concrete arch bridges in the world, and is considered one of Robert Maillarts greatest masterpieces

The Schwarzwasser Gorge

This is the Rossgraben Bridge, just 300m westward of the Schwandenbach bridge. This one was built in 1933. Both bridges can accommodate a maximum load of 7 tons.

Robert Maillart, one of the most influential engineers of the 20th Century. 

Another look back at the Bernese Alps as we head in the direction of Schwarzenburg. 

We didn't quite make it to Schwarzenburg. We decided to end our hike here, before actually reaching the city. 

The other two sections which we hiked near here are part of the Gürbentaler Höhenweg 

Where the Gantrisch Nature Park is in relation to Bern and to where we live in Zug

On the way back home, I always like to photograph the cathedral spire in Bern, especially with Mt.Jungfrau as a backdrop!

And another sight I love on the way home from Bern is the Aarburg Castle near Olten!