Sentiero Collina Alta from Monti della Trinità to Tenero (near Locarno)

Sunday December 18, 2022 -- Our final trip to the Ticino for this year, this was probably a day we should have done a snow hike in the mountains, but we were unsure about the weather above the 700m fog level, so we went to the Ticino again, where it actually wasn't all that warm either! In fact we were going to go very far south to Lugano, but had to make a quick change in plans because the sky was very overcast there.

On the Cardada hillside near Locarno are two popular hiking trails: "Sentiero Collina Alta" and "Sentiero Collina Bassa" (High Hill Trail and Low Hill Trail) which we have walked on previous occasions, but there are always variations and sections we have not yet discovered. So we took a bus up to the fabulous "Madonna del Sasso" church (did not visit it this time as we had been there almost exactly three years ago when we hiked the Sentiero Basso -- Photos are HERE), and walked the High Trail for the third time, but via Monti della Trinità to Tenero, i.e. in the opposite direction from the last two times. 

The mountain trail through the forest still had some snow and ice on shady sections, and we lost sunshine for a while, but with some nice views of Lago Maggiore and the surrounding mountains, we still managed a decent "mountain hike" without too much difficulty. My favourite impressions are the sight of palm trees with snow-covered mountains in the background, and my most annoying part of the day was that the churches I wanted to look inside were locked... and on a Sunday!

A very nice view of Madonna del Sasso Church (Lady of the Rock) above Locarno, as we start on our hike toward Monti della Trinità. We have seen the inside of this church on a previous hike. This is the most important pilgrimage site in Canton Ticino

A lovely painted house in Monti della Trinità

"Church of the Holy Trinity" in Monti della Trinità. There was historical infomation about the church on a placard next to it, but the building was locked. It looked quite nice inside. The building is privately owned, so maybe that is why. 

From here we go uphill to join the "High Hill Trail", and Tenero is our goal. A standard 3+ hour hike for us.

Starting at the Madonna del Sasso church in Orselina, we followed the "High Hill Trail". Here it is also part of regional trail no.74: "Sentiero Verzasca", a 35-km trail from the back of the Verzasca Valley to Locarno, which we have now completed. 

It also sometimes snows down to lake level here in Locarno, and there was still snow and ice on the "High Trail"

Everywhere the juxtaposition of palm trees and snow-covered peaks

It was a very nice forest trail to walk, and a large section here was an educational trail, with loads of information on the variety of trees and bushes that flourish here in the forests. 

According to Urs, these palms here are actually non-native plants originating in China and considered weeds in the forests here. 

More bridges, more ice

The "Sentiero Collina Alta" is also part of Trail no.74: "Sentiero Verzasca"

There was a house here advertised as a rentable vacation home. We checked out the back patio and the view. Not bad! (currently no one was in it). 

Once in a while we got a view of the east end of Lago Maggiore

And this is a view of Locarno, the Maggia Delta and the southern part of Lago Maggiore. Unfortunately, this is where we lost some sunshine. 

Every once in a while we come across a stone building in the forest. This one used to be a church built for devotional purposes in the 17th Century on the daily route from Locarno into the Verzasca Valley.  It is called the "Capella Rotta", ("Broken Chapel"), and legend has it, it was never completed because of the Plague. 

The fresco inside the "Broken Chapel" is from 1630

This anno 1750 "Roman Bridge" is called "El Pont del Sipp", or "Sipp's Bridge". Sipp was the name of a farmer who lived nearby. Before the bridge was build, the locals spanned the ravine with three large chestnut trees laden with stone plates. 

Another look at the entire hillside above Locarno. This hillside usually gets lots of sunshine and there are lots of nice houses in this desirable location!

And this view is across the Magadino Plain to the East, with the beautiful snow-covered mountains. We are now in a community called Costa and starting our descent to Tenero in the valley bottom. 

This is the entrance to the fascinating Verzasca Valley. The mountain is the fabulous Pizzo Vogorno, towering above the lake of the same name (with the famous James Bond Dam)

Heading through Costa on our way down the mountain

A look back at Costa as we head down the mountain

Almost the entire way down the mountain was a long staircase. In the shady sections we had to be careful of ice. 

In this village of Mondacce we join the "Sentiero Collina Bassa" down to Tenero, a section we have done before, in the other direction. There was a cute church here as well, also locked, but we couldn't figure out why. 

Another stunning sight of palm trees and snow. I'm not sure, but I think the mountain is called Camoghe

Below us is the Magadino Plain and Tenero, end of our hike. 

I totally remembered once having passed through this archway, and looked back at my older hike photos. Sure enough, it was from the hike from Tenero on the "Low Hill Road" from 2019! (Those photos HERE)

The church in Tenero. It has a rather modern interior. 

In 2019 we did the "Low Hill Trail" starting in Tenero and walking all the way back down to Locarno. This time we started at the church, walked up the hill and along the "High Hill Trail" back down to Tenero. 

A popular and sun-exposed region for us, that's why we do a lot of hiking here, mainly in winter and early spring!

Also of interest might be the photos of our little loop tour over the Verzasca Dam (in orange) which we did in February 2018, also starting and ending in Tenero, ad passing through Costa as well. PHOTOS HERE

Winter Hike along the Senda Sursilvana Trail from Sedrun to Disentis

Thursday December 8, 2022 -- In the Catholic Cantons of Switzerland, this day was a holiday, so another chance for us for an excursion. We chose well this time, heading right to the center of the Alps to the Surselva Region of Canton Graubünden, where the Rhine River has its source.

This was our first snow hike of the season, one which we did several years ago but which was worth doing again, because there is a lot of sunshine here in winter. The trail here from Sedrun to Disentis is part of the "Senda Sursilvana" and is a prepared winter trail  considered to be THE classic winter hike in this region. It was a 10 kilometer walk which under normal circumstances would take 2.5 hours, but walking on snow, even when the trail is prepared, takes longer.

It was minus 3 degrees, so we had stockings and long underwear under our jeans, but at times it was too warm that way! But in the shadows we were glad for it.

We had another day of spectacular visibility, and considering that it was a holiday, there were relatively few people on the train. (Most of the ski lifts in the area are not yet operational). Besides the lovely walk, the train trip there and back from Andermatt over the Oberalp Pass with the popular Gotthard-Matterhorn train was spectacular as well. (Unfortunately, my camera cannot capture the white of the snow in the shadow areas, so those photos are all blue!)

(Side note: Here are two of my blog entries for hikes around the Oberalp Pass, which show the region without snow:  HERE and HERE)

A look down at the city of Andermatt in the Urseren Valley, as we head up to the Oberalp Pass at 9:30 in the morning

Wonderful sunshine up at the Oberalp Pass. We were alone in our wagon, and because some of the trains which run on the Gotthard-Matterhorn railway line are still the old ones with windows you can open, I spent most of the time leaning out the window!

Emerging from the avalanche gallery as we now head east down the Surselva Valley. This view is toward the Oberalp Pass. The Rhine River has its source here, at Lake Toma in the dip in the mountains at the center. 

Another look behind us at the village of Selva, in shadow for several weeks in winter!

The trees are so beautiful covered in snow like this! Since the sun doesn't reach here, the snow doesn't melt. 

Approaching the town of Sedrun where we are starting on our approx. 3-hour walk. The valley is wider here and the villages get more sunshine. 

Some additional interesting information about the Sedrun-Disentis Trail which we are walking this day. 

10:30 start at the train station in Sedrun, with the first glimpse of some of the fabulous peaks around here. 

Walking through Sedrun, admiring the houses and Christmas decorations!

Town of Sedrun

Admiring the houses in Sedrun

Another look past the town of Sedrun toward the mountains near the Oberalp Pass. From here we head east on our 10-km winter walk. 

The 10-km trail from Sedrun to Disentis (no.258) is the Classic Winter Hike in this part of the Surselva Valley

Crossing the railway viaduct east of Sedrun

Another look back toward the west, toward the Oberalp Pass

The snow on the prepared trail was dry and exactly what one would expect from a winter walking trail (not melted, soft or icy)

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There were many benches along the trail, and when we stopped for lunch, we checked the train schedule: There was a train leaving Sedrun right around that time and coming our way. So I waited for it, to capture it on video. (Also, you can see Urs sitting on the bench on the right).

Enjoying our winter snow hike with lots of sunshine and clear views of the mountains

Entering the village of Mumpé Tujetsch

For such a small chapel, there were some really fascinating details inside! Especially the medieval lock system on the door.

The winter trail no.258 is aptly named "Sedrun-Disentis Trail". In summer it is part of the St.James Trail no.43 and the "Senda Sursilvana " trail no.85. 

Our first glimpse of the city of Distentis, where we will end out hike. The large 1400-year-old Benedictine Monastery is a dominant landmark of this city. 

Down below is the train station for the village of Segnas, which is actually not near the station. 

On the other side of the Rhine River is the small village of Mumpé Medel at the entrance of the side valley called Medel Valley, which we have yet to discover. 

A detour off the main trail to visit the village of Medel. I was impressed with the very clear definition of "sunny side" and "shady side" of this tree!

A look back toward the village of Segnas as we continue on to Disentis

More lovely houses

A look behind us, this time into the Segnas Valley

Oh look, we found another shop selling cheese and home-made ice cream! But only bought the cheese this time. 

Heading South. Across from us on the other side of the Rhine River is the Medel Valley, which you can travel to the Lukmanier Pass (Passo di Lucomagno). 

On the outskirts of the city of Disentis

A short and shady ravine before reaching Disentis

For Urs, any train bridge, tunnel or viaduct is fascinating

Passing the San Gions parish church, but had no time to look into it, as we really wanted to get on the 2:15 train, and it was now 2:05!! It apparently also has an interesting Baroque interior. I'm looking forward to checking it out another time. 

We were greeted with a lovely rendition of a Christmas carol as we passed this beautiful Carillon next to the church.  

This is the second time we walke the Sedrun-Disentis section in winter. We have hiked various sections between Andermatt and Disentis (and further east), with several visits to Lake Toma (Lai da Tuma / Tomasee), the source of the Posterior Rhine River. 

We were finished with our walk relatively early and boarded the train at 2:15 p.m., which was intentional as we didn't want to be caught in an early sundown again, and were hoping for some sunshine for the train ride back over the Oberalp Pass to Andermatt. The train ride back to Andermatt was just as magnificent as the ride to Sedrun and our 3-hour walk....

Traveling in winter is best when the trees are all covered in snow!

Heading back toward Sedrun

Going over the train viaduct which we had crossed on foot about four hours earlier

A look back at Sedrun and the Rhine Valley where we did our 3-hour walk, as the train now heads up toward the Oberalp Pass

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On the train heading West from Sedrun

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The beautiful snow-covered trees in the very narrow and shady Surselva Valley, on the way to the Oberalp Pass

Here and there a bit of sunshine in this otherwise shady valley!

Approaching the village of Selva, still in shadow!

Passing the fabulous Curnera Dam, where we did one of our most spectacular hikes in September 2021, those photo are HERE

Just before the Oberalp Pass. The valley on the right leads up to Lake Toma, which is the source of the Rhine River. We have hiked here many times. 

And now we are heading West toward the Ursuren Valley and Andermatt. It's 3 p.m., and there is a lot of sun up here. This is a large skiing region, but the cable-ways weren't in operation yet, so good for us, as there were only a few people "on the road". 

A look back toward the Oberalp Pass

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The sunny stretch from the Oberalp Pass down to the city of Andermatt:

Final approach to Andermatt. 3:15 p.m, and the sun will disappear soon. This is also one of our favourite valleys.

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Heading through the Schöllenen Gorge by Train on the way down to the Reuss Valley. 

Location of the Andermatt-OberalpPass-Disentis region in the heart of the Swiss Alps