10 Feb 2024

Snowy Getaway in the Swiss Alps: 2 Hints on How to Check for Snow and Where to Find it.

by | posted in: Away from the crowds - Winter, Swiss Alps, transport, Winter in Switzerland | 0

Ski trails and Glarus mountains of the Pizol in the eastern Heidiland Region – – View from chairlift

February in Switzerland is traditionally a time when skiers flock to the numerous ski resorts that cover the Swiss Alps. There are all kinds of winter sports locations – from the large multi-region resorts to the smaller locally run pistes and finally, to the blink and you would miss alpine villages that transform hillside meadows and mountain slopes into ski runs (my favourite). There are so many options all over the country. Unfortunately, the alpine regions normally covered in thick snow at this time of year are experiencing more and more instances where they struggle to keep the snow on the pistes, mountain trails and sledge runs.

Planning a Snowy Getaway

These warmer winters have made it more problematic to plan a ski-based getaway in the Alps. However, as an added safeguard to ensure visitors continue to come, the ski resorts are adding more autumn and spring-like activities to keep attracting winter sports enthusiasts. These alternatives to skiing have become a necessity for local businesses to keep operating through the winter months.

When trying to organise a dream ski holiday, these are the issues that can arise:

  1. You booked your holiday months ago, have all the equipment organised and have committed to staying in a particular holiday home or hotel. The issue: The snow is melting fast and your accommodation is now surrounded by flattened grass and mud…
  2. You have no idea what to expect and what to commit to before starting your holiday. The issue: Do you book ski lessons or tickets early or do you wait and hope the prices don’t rise?

Solutions

1. Keep Informed

Information Board at Ibergeregg near Schwyz, Central Switzerland

  • Download the Swiss Tourism Swiss Snow App – this clarifies everything you need to know about conditions in pretty much any ski area in Switzerland. Some of the details include: the depth of the snow – in both the mountains and the valleys, what lifts are open and webcams for a proper inspection. This App also has maps and advice on the type of snow, prices for tickets, offers, tobogganing runs, snow parks, and winter hiking trails through forests where the snow tends to stick around. Also, most importantly for this post, other types of activities.
  • Bergflex.ch is an amazing source of information about ski resorts all over the country. Information includes snow depth, number of lifts, prices, altitude, km of pistes, and links to accommodation… all on one page! Worth viewing for up-to-date information.

2. Go Exploring

You can always go further upwards or outwards. The Swiss Alps are surprisingly compact and the public transport is legendary. It’s easy to get from valley or mountain accommodation to other resorts or higher altitudes by public transport.

Example 1: Try The Graubünden Pass, a rail pass which covers over 7,106 square kilometres of the canton and 150 valleys. This pass includes half-price travel on certain mountain rail journeys. It also covers travel on the Post bus routes, the little red Rhätischen Rail line and some cable cars. This region is full of high-altitude ski resorts, small pistes, ice-skating, sled runs, alternative winter activities and lovely small villages. The wild Bernina mountains are particularly good for guaranteed winter snow and a chance to view the Diavolezza Glacier which can be viewed from the top of a cable car at around 3,000 metres above sea level. It is possible to ski around here from the middle of October to the start of May.

Example 2: Snow ‘n’ Rail by Switzerland Rail Network – sbb.ch. By booking through the public transport website it is possible to book a combination of public transport and 1 day or multi-day ski passes for over 25 ski regions. These passes are discounted and can include the return journey and the relevant transport options for getting up the mountain. Discounts can be as much as 30%, depending on the time of year.

Plenty of resources are always available to see what to do and where to do it. The local tourism authorities have stepped up over the last few years. You can always find informative brochures, booklets or online advice on winter activities. There are loads of options wherever you are.

Gamplüt in the Toggenberg Region

… and, of course, for those lesser-known spots… try my blog 🙂

19 Jan 2024

Finding a panoramic hike in the Swiss Alps that makes you feel on top of the world

by | posted in: Adventure, Away from the crowds - Winter, Ideas for walks, Swiss Alps, UNESCO World Heritage Site | 0
mountain panorama Pizol

The truth about how mountains are made is unveiled in the amazing Pizol alpine region. Found in the UNESCO World Heritage Sardona Tectonic Arena, this region is full of panoramic wonders – you just need to know where to look.

The Pizol High Plateau is like a viewing platform of geological events going back millennia. You can see mountain chains once part of the African plate, the Rhine Valley, once a huge glacier, snaking off into the distance and mountain peaks, once hundreds of metres below the ocean in deep-sea trenches, now over 2,500 metres above sea level covered in snow. But the region is mostly famous for the discovery that geologists and scientists made here – how mountains are formed. The collision of plates can be seen in the clearly defined layers of rock over 300 million years old, now known as the “Glarus thrust”.

Why would anyone want to miss a show like that?

How to view mighty mountains and the Rhine Valley – Pizol’s Panorama Trail

Sign meanings: Yellow indicates Ski Tours 34 & 35 down to Gaffia middle chairlift station, Brown/red is the red ski slope to Gaffia and Green indicates the paragliding site – available in both summer and winter. Pink is for winter trail 172 – Panorama circular trail – more detail below.

Doing the Panorama Trail

Length: 3.6 km | Duration: 1 hour 10 mins | Height Difference: 30 m | Start: Either Wangs or Bad Ragaz gondola stations

Location

When travelling by car, the Pizol Region is reached via the main A3 motorway in a southeast direction from Zürich. Around 30 minutes after travelling across the southern tip of Lake Zürich the motorway runs through the Rhine Valley where dramatic views of the Alps rise up in front of you – of course, this depends on the weather. The Glarus Valley to the west, is notorious for fog but once this clears the mighty peaks are visible all around. Once travelling through tunnels and alongside Walensee (Lake Walen), the Rhine Valley widens and this is when signposts for Wangs and Bad Ragaz come into view. From here it is easy to exit the motorway and find a park at the valley stations of both gondolas.

When taking public transport the views from the train start in the valley and include the wonderful Walensee. From Wangs or Bad Ragaz buses connect the train station to the gondolas.

The Trail

The Pizol high plateau stretches out between the top chairlift stations Laufböden and the Pizolhütte, with the magnificent Panorama Höhenweg circular hiking trail meandering between these two points. The crowning glory is the summit panorama and the Grand Tour of Switzerland photo spot at the Tagweidlichopf viewpoint. The circular trail is dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage Tectonic Arena Sardona.

Highlights:
  • Large info panel at the panoramic viewing platform with astounding insights into the formation of the Alps.
  • Grand Tour of Switzerland Photo Spot.
  • 360-degree views.
  • Clear views of the ridging and folding of rock strata known as the Glarus Thrust.
  • Well-groomed paths in a stunning winter landscape.
  • Friendly staff
  • Cosy mountain restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating.
  • Panorama Benches
My Experience

I was lucky enough to have an invitation from the lovely staff at Pizol Tourism and Marketing after asking for information about winter walking in the area.

I planned to explore the area with a friend. The idea was that we would get familiar with the area by taking the gondola and chair lifts to the top, have a coffee at the Pizolhütte Restaurant, do the trail, take plenty of photos and learn more about the Tectonic Arena, then finish for another drink before going down to the valley.

View from chairlift – ski trails and the Glarus mountains hidden under thick snow.

Getting to the Pizol Plateau

Great theory but unfortunately my friend couldn’t make it so I was on my own. It was not a problem except when I arrived I was surrounded by skiers, a gondola trip then 2 chair lift rides to the top. I imagined sharing a chair lift with a seasoned skier – they would gracefully alight at the top station, swishing off into the snowy distance, I, however, would be forced to run along the hard snowy floor of the station, probably slip, ending up under the chairlift with the possibility of my backpack strap hooked around some part of the lift. The staff would be forced to stop the lifts while unhooking me and pulling me to my feet. I would then limp off, spending the rest of my time on the mountain worrying about the trip down.

Attentive Staff

Of course, it didn’t happen like that. The lift staff were very attentive and made sure I was not travelling with skiers, also the exit from the lifts was very straightforward – I just took a step to the side and was on firm ground. There were also plenty of other people doing the winter walks so, most importantly, I was not alone.

So I started the Panorama trail completely relaxed, breathing in the crisp alpine air, bathed in sunlight, buzzing at the thought of walking on the well-groomed paths. It was very early in the day and the snow was pretty hard on the trail. This meant a bit of slipping and sliding to start with, which was viewed by others in the chair lift but at that point, I didn’t care. The wonderful thing about the Pizol plateau is that you feel like you are on top of the world, with views of mountains going on forever into the distance. A few slips and slides didn’t matter. I just waved at my audience and continued to slip and slide down the path.

After the initial challenge, the path softened and was easier to negotiate. I would recommend sturdy winter boots for the walk and I noticed some other hikers have poles, but these are not required.

Near the start of the trail looking towards the Tagweidlichopf viewpoint.

The Hike

The high plateau at 2222 meters, that the trail crosses, is positioned in front of the Sardona Tectonic Arena like a naturally shaped viewing platform. The views are in all directions – towards the World Heritage Glarus mountains, across the Rhine Valley and as far as Lake Constance in clear weather, then layers of Alps disappearing into the distance.

On the trail, looking towards Pizolhütte Restaurant and chairlift.

Beautiful shapes are made from shadows created by the morning sun. Lake Wangser (Wangsersee) is hidden under snow and ice.

Tagweidlichopf vantage point

The high-altitude trail is lined with information about the view, the origin of the Alps and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the highlights is the Tagweidlichopf vantage point (2275 m above sea level) with a 360-degree panoramic view and a large panoramic viewing guide explaining the geological changes and events that created the landscape.

A Grand Tour of Switzerland photo spot with a view of the Pizol summit and its glacier was installed here in July 2018. The Pizol was chosen as one of the 40 most beautiful photo spots in Switzerland.

How to get there and a map of walking routes with lifts

A gondola and chairlift complete the journey up to the Pizol Plateau from Bad Ragaz – Laufböden (2,224 m). Another option is with a gondola and 2 chairlifts from the town of Wangs -Pizolhütte station (2,222 m). All lifts connect seamlessly. The map below displays the lifts.

Winter hiking trail – Pizol Panorama Höhenweg (high altitude walk). Can also be done in summer.

To the Valley Station at Wangs or Bad Ragaz
Public Transport
  • Zürich main station to Bad Ragaz train station: Taking 1 hr 16 mins (depending on connection), then the bus to Bad Ragaz Pizol Bahn (gondola) takes 13 mins. (Check the sbb.ch timetable for exact connection times).
  • Zürich main station to Sargans train station: Taking 1 hr 10/ 1 hr 30 mins (depending on connection), then the bus to Wangs Pizolbahn (gondola) takes 10 mins. (Check the sbb.ch timetable for exact connection times).
Car
  • Central Zürich – around 90 km to Wangs gondola car and 95 km to Bad Ragaz gondola car park – taking around 1 hour 40 mins/ 2 hours depending on traffic.
  • Lucerne – 85 km to the region.
Gondolas and chairlifts

Access to the top (Pizol Plateau)

  • Bad Ragaz: 8-seater Gondola Bad Ragaz-Pardiel and 4-seater chairlift to Laufböden.
  • Wangs: 8-seater Gondola Wangs-Furt and 4-seater chairlift Furt-Gaffia then 4-seater chairlift Gaffia-Pizolhütte.

For operating times and further information go to the Pizol region’s official tourism website.

Other Activities and Impressions

Other activities in Pizol ski resort and the region include:

  • Great skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing
  • Ride on a snow groomer
  • Tandem Paragliding
  • Goat Trekking
  • Further winter hikes
  • Tamina Thermal Baths
  • Bündner Herrschaft wine region
  • All things Heidi
2 Oct 2023

How to find a Magical Alpine Lake Hidden in the Swiss Alps

by | posted in: Adventure, Away from the crowds - summer, Ideas for walks, Swiss Alps, Swiss lakes | 0

Oberblegi Lake – In the Glarner Alps

After spending a few hours hiking on an alpine trail that goes through meadows and forests; under overhanging rocks, across streams and through high valleys, it is such a wonderful feeling when the magical Oberblegisee alpine lake appears in front of you mirroring the surrounding mountain peaks.

The only access to the lake is with a gondola ride and then hiking and biking trails – keeping it well hidden.

The Walk

The walk to the lake and then to the Brunnenberg cable car takes approx. 3 hours with stops. The start is mainly flat then it goes up and down a bit before reaching the lake. A grill spot with views, a simple restaurant serving regional products and 2 self-service alpine cheese dairies are found along the route. Good to Know: They only accept cash and sometimes the TWINT app.

Getting to the Trail

The trip up the mountain starts at Linthal in the Glarus valley. This valley branches off just before Lake Walen (Walensee) and is reached by exiting the main motorway from Zürich at Glarus/Näfels (No. 44 off-ramp). The region, which includes the UNESCO World Heritage Sardona Tectonic Arena, is called Glarnerland.

Good to Know: The national public transport system (sbb.ch) offers a combi-deal – a discount when booking the complete trip through them. Get more information here.

Directions are as follows:

  • At Linthal Braunwaldbahn take the funicular to the car-free village of Braunwald.
  • Walk approx. 10-minutes to the Hüttenberg – Grotzenbüel gondola
  • When arriving at the Grotzenbüel ski and hiking area, look for the yellow sign (with white/red/white mountain trail markings) to Oberblelgisee Rundweg.
  • The hiking trail ends at the Luchsingen gondola station that will take back down the valley to the Brunnenberg train station.

For more details on the funicular, gondolas(operating times), hiking trail and what time of year to do it see the Getting There section below.

The Trail

Distance: 8 km (from gondola to gondola)

Takes: approx. 3 hrs with stops.

Ascent: 77 m

Descent: 540 m

After leaving the top station of the Grotzenbüel gondola, the first part of the walk is alongside rolling pastures and forested areas with great views of the mountain range on the other side of the valley.

In the summer the dairy farms are busy making dairy products that can be enjoyed at small restaurants and Käserei (cheese dairies) throughout the whole walk.

Walking in the Glarus Mountains to Oberblegi Lake (Oberblegisee)

A lovely thick forest with wild mushrooms and ferns opens out to a wide valley. From here the trail winds uphill to a pretty little Beizli (small farm restaurant) which has a small but very tasty menu of local ingredients.

Then the wonderful Lake Oberblegisee with plenty of places for a picnic or, if you are brave, a swim.

Getting There

Hüttenberg-Grotzenbüel gondola also runs in winter for winter sports

Take the Linthal Valley to Braunwald funicular, then walk to Hüttenberg for the gondola to Grotzenbüel to begin the walk (1,559 m).

The trail ends at the Brunnenberg cable car that travels down to the Luchsingen Valley.

Gondola and Funicular websites.

Click here to discover more about Canton Glarus

Acknowledgements:

Yellow Hüttenberg Gondolas, Glarus Photo by: Frank Köster-Düpree on Unsplash

25 Sep 2023

An Enchanting Alpine Valley with some of the most Dramatic Mountain Scenery in Europe

by | posted in: Away from the crowds - summer, Ideas for walks, Swiss Alps | 0

In the warmer months, this alpine valley in the Swiss Alps is accessible by bus and on foot. In winter when the valley is covered in snow it is possible to do the legendary 5.5 km sled run from Grosse Scheidegg, down through the valley to Schwarzwaldalp.

The Bernese Oberland offers some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Europe while quietly keeping the Alpine farming traditions and heritage alive. When walking in the upper valley that runs between Meiringen to Grindelwald, you feel as if you have come to a truly authentic part of Switzerland. This valley offers vistas of mighty peaks, moorlands, mossy forests, tiny hamlets with traditional farms, and country Inns.

The sound of cowbells, the wild Rychenbach river, waterfalls and the sing song warning from the Post Bus as it navigates the tight bends on the valley road all remind you exactly where you are – so typically Swiss.

Where to Start

Summer

From Meiringen – Daily bus services from 18th May 2023 – 22 October 2023

Option 1: Walking the official Via Alpina trail which rises 400m/3 km from Meiringen township to the valley.

Option 2: Take the nostalgic cog railway up this section. This runs alongside the very famous 300-metre-high Reichenbach Falls. Made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story The Final Problem where Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty fight on the ledge overlooking the falls.

Winter

From Meiringen – The bus timetable can be found at postauto.ch.

Toboggan Run: 5.5 km sled run from Grosse Scheidegg down to Schwarzwaldalp, then bus back to Meiringen.

Distances

Meiringen – Grosse Scheidegg Pass

Length: 15km Ascent: 1400m (from top of cog train 1,100 m)

Grosse Scheidegg Pass – Grindelwald

Length: 8km Descent: 930 m

Ways of seeing the area – from May to October

From mid-May to mid-October the yellow post buses help you get through the valley.

Options: 1. Walk 2. Take the bus 3. Walk and take the bus

There are plenty of places on the walk which move away from the road. Even so, there are around 10 bus stops along the route from the top of Reichenbach Falls in Meiringen to Grosse Scheidegg.

The Grindelwald Bus goes from Grosse Scheidegg down to Grindelwald, taking about 30 mins.

Good to Know: Private cars are not allowed to drive over the Grosse Scheidegg Pass without a permit.

Pit Stops

The lovingly restored 18th-century Rosenlaui Hotel (12th May – 15th October) comes as a big surprise when seeing it for the first time. Up until arriving at this point we only saw traditional buildings. I thought we had perhaps taken the wrong turn and were heading into Grindelwald or Interlaken but no, this lovely and inviting Inn is in the middle of this valley.

Standing at the entrance to the Rosenlaui Gorge, this well-preserved hotel was built after an influx of 18th-century artists and poets fell in love with the region and needed somewhere to stay.

Note: There are no TVs or wifi in the building and there is a photo-free zone in all public areas. I didn’t realise this when taking the photo above…

Other restaurants and inns include:

The Hiking Trail

The track starts in Willingen in Meiringen and climbs approx. 300 metres to the alpine valley alongside the Reichenbach Falls. The other option, the very civilised historical cog railway built in 1899, slowly takes you up the steep slope to the edge of the falls.

We used the cog railway for this walk for two reasons – a better view of the falls and an easy start to the 1,100-metre ascent to Grosse Scheidegg (we were determined to do this section without taking the bus).

Starting the walk

From the pretty village of Zwirgi, the trail goes gradually uphill through a forest beside the road, and for a short time, on the road. The track then leads deeper into the forest and then out to wide meadows with the iconic Wellhorn mountain dominating the skyline.

This grill has the best views you could ask for. I loved the rustic wooden shelter which seemed to have everything needed for a grill – seating, frypans, tongs and even an axe! We were tempted to stop but knew the Rosenlaui Hotel was close. We really felt like a cold drink, so after taking a few photos we moved on.

The Rosenlaui Hotel is gorgeous – lovely staff and an amazing setting. After a quick look at the little waterfall on the grounds of the Hotel (the waiter kindly let us know it was there), we made our way past the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge entrance – (a possible side trip), through a very mossy forest to the little hamlet of chalets at Schwarzwaldalp.

The final stage of this walk passes through wild woodlands with jaw-dropping views of the Wellhorn mountains and the Wetterhorn.

At this point of the walk, the trail becomes very steep but luckily there are plenty of benches for resting and refueling.

We celebrated our achievement with a drink at the Berghotel Grosse Scheidegg, then caught the bus to Grindelwald. This 30-minute bus ride can be seriously panoramic – depending on the weather.

Gross Scheidegg looking towards Grindelwald
Incredible vista from the top of First
Grindelwald and the Eiger

There are plenty of other walks from Grosse Scheidegg. A couple of options:

  • Continue down the valley to complete stage 10 of the Via Alpina trail.
  • Across to First with views of majestic mountains Eiger, Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn. (First also offers one of Grindelwald’s top five adventures – flying across a sun terrace while strapped into a harness).

Links to Swiss Mobility Map

Swiss Mobility has a well-detailed map with a height profile and tips on saving altitude. A link to the complete Stage 10 of the Via Alpina trail (Meiringen – Grindelwald) can be found here. It is possible to continue onwards by following the Via Alpina – offical walking route number 1. This Route crosses 14 Alpine passes, with a distance of 390 km and has 20 stages.

More off the Beaten Track Ideas in the Bernese Oberland

24 May 2022

Majestic Alpine Vistas Deep in the Engelberg Valley – Perfect for Lifting Spirits

by | posted in: Adventure, Engelberg, Ideas for walks, Swiss Alps | 0

Engelberger Aa river. Image by A. Leggett

Fürenalp Region and a Hike to Remember

Exploring the Swiss region of Engelberg is a perfect way to lift your spirits while witnessing the living traditions found throughout the rugged mountainous region. A walking trail through the Engelberger Aa River Valley passes through farming meadows, past waterfalls and cheese dairies and, in the warmer months, cows munching on wildflowers.

As soon as you reach the top of the Fürenalp gondola, deep in the Engelberg valley, the views are instantly staggering with a wall of rugged mountains, a deep valley and pretty meadows all around. Switzerland’s signature bright yellow hiking signposts point to the dirt trails that wind around corners and up hills hinting at the possibilities of more spectacular panoramas.

My family and I travelled on the Fürenalp gondola in late summer when slate grey clouds were threatening us from a distance. We knew it was just a matter of time before they rolled in, bringing heavy rain and stormy weather. We had just enough time to get up the small gondola and have a quick look around. For me this was a good opportunity to show my two teenagers that this would be an exciting place to explore and hike around in the coming days of our holiday – it worked. They both made me promise we would come back for a proper hike the next day.

Stäuber Waterfall Panoramic Hike

A lovely downhill hiking trail is the Stäuber panorama hike(9.2 km, 3 hours, medium difficulty). It starts at the top of the Fürenalp gondola (1,850 m) and gradually winds down through rocky meadows and pastures that, during the warmer months, are home to wildflowers and cattle. At the Stäuber waterfall, the trail turns back towards Engelberg it then runs along the river valley, back to the Fürenalp car park with an alternative shorter version using the smaller Äbnet gondola.

All in one – wildflowers, cows, waterfalls and mountains. Photo by A.Leggett

Good to Know: The high-altitude grazing and wildflower diet give the cow’s milk and the cheese a special flavour – so it is worth trying out a cheese platter at one of the mountain dairies or restaurants.

Making our way down to the valley from Fürenalp. Photo by A.Leggett

The path eventually reaches a small cluster of buildings that are made up of the Surenen Kaserei (cheese dairy) and Usser Äbnet cable car – a possible shortcut option.

Äbnet Bahn, Alpkäse trail. Image from Engelberg Tourism

This shortcut would mean missing out on the lovely Stäuber waterfall that is tucked into the landscape at the turning point of this walk. From here there are also further walks to the wild Surenen Pass.

Looking towards the Surenen Pass with the pretty Stäuber waterfall below. Photo by A.Leggett

The waterfall is the point where the trail heads back toward Engelberg and Fürenalp cable car valley station. After zig-zagging down to the valley and passing over trickling springs, the trail runs alongside the wide, shallow Engelberger Aa River.

Hay-making involves special gondolas that help transport large bundles of hay down the steep terrain. Some of these “Burdi” (bale of hay in Swiss German) weigh around 60 kg so the farmers need all the help they can get with this back-breaking job.

Shaded spots can be found alongside the river. Photo by A.Leggett

We found this picnic spot by the river – massive boulders and trees provided lounging areas and shade.

From here the path passes some places offering food and drink (see below) and then crosses fields before reaching the cable car station’s carpark and bus stop – beware of the paragliders landing. I remember running through the fields to get out of their way (probably not a good idea) before finishing the walk – a last burst of energy. Am sure we didn’t need to worry, they seemed to have their landings all under control.

It is obviously important to respect the natural environment and farming areas by sticking to the trails. The farmers that graze their stock around the meadows in this area work hard to ensure the natural environment is protected, therefore, any visitors to the area need to do the same thing.

Food stops and other activities in the area

Alp Käserei and Beizli – (alpine cheese dairies and small restaurants)

The alpine cheese dairies (Alpkäserei) can be found dotted throughout the mountains in this region (open from mid-May to October) with the dairy products coming straight from the cows seen in the surrounding meadows. Two found on this hike are Surenen Alpkäserei which is part of the Äbnet gondola´s top station and Alpkäserei & Berggasthaus Stäfeli tucked away in the valley.

Bouldering at Äbnet: Image from Engelberg-Titlis Tourism

For the more adventurous there are Klettergärten (rock climbing areas), a rope park (Seilpark) and, for experienced climbers, the Via Ferrata climb which offers a much more challenging way of reaching the Fürenalp mountain restaurant.

For further hiking ideas with maps go here.

Tradition and Way of Life

The Engelberger Valley is farmed in a way that is in harmony with the landscape. Because of the steep alpine pastures, it is only possible to do the cutting, raking, and bundling of hay manually – a system of farming that also contributes to the land’s biodiversity and protection.

Often the slopes on the Stanserhorn, Haldigrat and around Engelberg are even too steep for grazing – not sure how they discovered that – a cow avalanche maybe?

The Buiräbähnli gondolas are heavily relied on by farmers around the Engelberg valley. Photo by A.Leggett

The tradition of manually cutting, with hand sharpened scythes, and transporting the hay for the coming winter is known as “wild haymaking”. For hundreds of years, strong farmers have risked life and limb to work on the steep slopes high up from the valley floor and small open gondolas that look like awkwardly formed trailers have been relied on for shifting the hay, milk containers and sometimes people. These rustic lifts are called “Buiräbähnli” – a word that is almost impossible to pronounce by anyone that is not Swiss. If you look hard enough you will find them all over – their lines stretching up hills, mountains and across wide rivers beds. Nowadays it is possible to have a ride in some of the enclosed Buiräbähnli if you have a good head for heights.

Getting There and Hiking Information

By Public Transport to Fürenalp gondola bus stop:

Zürich Main Station:– Train to Engelberg (change at Lucerne) and shuttle bus from Engelberg to Fürenalp, 2 hours 15 mins. Check bus timetable on fürenalp.ch website as limited service in autumn and no service during the winter months.

Lucerne Main Station:– Train to Engelberg and shuttle bus from Engelberg to Fürenalp, 1 hour 15 mins. Check bus timetable on fürenalp.ch website as limited service in Autumn and no service during the winter months.

By Car to Fürenalp gondola carpark:

Zürich centre:– 90km via A4, around 1 hour 20 mins depending on traffic

Lucerne centre:– 40 km via A2, around 50 mins

Hiking Map and Fürenalp Gondola Operating Times

Go to the Engelberg Tourism link for the Stäuber Panorama Hike.

Go to fürenalp.ch/en/opening-hours for the Fürenalp operating times and prices.