In the beginning of this blog, I more or less wrote about every hike I did. Over the past couple of years however, that simply wasn't possible anymore and so, for the time being, I'll keep my focus on a few selected hikes. To still have a degree of variation, I’m trying to cover different areas in Switzerland in different seasons. So when I had a few days off work at the end of May and spent those in the beautiful region of the Lake Lungern, I had no other choice than to write about my time there, as it not only covered this year's spring hike, but at the same time featured an area that so far has never been featured before. :) Around Lake Lungern, there are plenty of options and deciding to visit a few peaks in the vicinity, I started my hike at the railway station of Lungern in the early morning. After walking along a paved road for a few minutes, I already had left the town behind and came upon the first turnoff. Pleasantly, it led me onto a proper hiking path, which followed a small creek towards the woods. Another turnoff appeared shortly after I had entered the forest and choosing to turn left, I soon emerged from the woods again to find in front of me the first beautiful view of the day. As it was a bit too early to take a break I just kept on walking, but luckily the panorama remained all the way to the next junction where a bench was too inviting to pass by and I sat down for a late breakfast while enjoying the scenery and the crisp morning air. :)
Entering a meadow right after I had started walking again, some curious cows approached me and stayed as an escort by my side until I had reached the other end of the meadow. :) Most probably, they wouldn't have minded joining in on my hike, but naturally, I carried on without them and stepped right onto the first steeper ascending slope. As the sky was still cloudless and there mostly was no wind, the ascent turned into a pretty sweaty affair, but fortunately I was able to get some rest once that slope was left behind, as the trail leveled off and followed a wide street for a while. A gravel road ensued after the paved street and before long a farm appeared on a big plateau. The view from there was beautiful as well, but I was sure that the best was yet to come. :) Up next, a steep slope across the mountainside had to be conquered and that turned into quite a challenge. It wasn't only the steepness, but the trail was overgrown in places and the markings were few and far between, so that I was staring on my GPS way too regularly. :) To every downside, there is an upside however and in that case, it definitely was the fantastic view. :)
The panorama vanished once I came upon the end of the slope and turned left in order to continue the ascent on a path in the woods. Eventually reaching another farm that resided on a plateau called Egg, I took the opportunity for another pause and braced myself for the ascent to the first summit called Güpfi. Looking at the trail ahead, it seemed to go straight up the flank of the mountain and wondering where exactly it would lead me through, I soon started to move again. Well, it basically went exactly along that flank, as serpentines were leading upwards on a narrow trail. :) Fantastic views appeared a bit higher up, not only of Lake Lungern, but also of Lake Sarnen and its surrounding mountains. Reaching the end of that final slope, I stepped onto a ridge and at first had to catch my breath. Not only because of the strenuous ascent, but also because of the breathtaking scenery all around me. To the right the Lake Lungern, to the left the mountains of Melchsee-Frutt and ahead of me the Bernese Alps in full view on the horizon. :)
Walking along the ridge towards the summit, I was a bit surprised that that part wasn't an alpine trail, as the path was narrow and both mountainsides superbly steep. Not having expected such a fun trail, I enjoyed every step until I had reached the huge cross that marked the top of the Güpfi. Sitting down for lunch, I took my time to marvel at the scenery and to enjoy the still perfect weather.
As usual, I couldn't stay on the top forever and moving on eventually, the descent from the Güpfi began right at its summit. In the beginning, the gorgeous views remained, before the trees finally closed in on me and I had to head down the mountain without any further lookout. At the bottom of the slope, a sea of yellow flowers, the hamlet of Hüttstett and a lovely view towards the remarkable Horn awaited me. That mountain was next on my list and so I took the designated turnoff in Hüttstett.
Another junction appeared after a short but intense ascent and turning right, I headed along a low stone wall towards the Horn. Passing the mountain on the left hand side, I saw on the map that there was a Via Ferrata but didn't think that it was possible to reach the top on foot. Once around the whole mountain however, I was surprised to find a well worn path that was leading in the direction of the summit. And as you might have guessed, my curiosity was too big to just ignore that path. :) Walking along the narrow trail, I was amazed how well maintained it was and I was even more amazed once I came upon a ladder to overcome a short vertical mountain wall.
The scramble was brief and five minutes later I stood on the wide peak, enjoying a second lunch and some terrific views in every direction. :)
Retracing my steps about 25 minutes later, I picked up the official trail where I had left it off and continued to the next junction where I just walked straight ahead. Once more, the hiking path gave way to a gravel road and heading along it, I soon came upon a vast snowfield barring my way. While I went around the snow at first, it was actually easier to walk over it and as there was no danger in doing so, the crossing of the snowfield was just another nice diversion. :) Eventually, leaving the gravel road behind, it was about time to head up to the last summit called Gibel. The peak itself wouldn’t have been too far away, but spontaneously I decided to take a small detour and have a look into the Haslital as well. :) That that decision was the right one was most evident when I came upon a fantastic viewpoint from where I could look down into the valley and marvel at the impressive Bernese Alps to the opposite of me.
10 minutes later I was on my way again and headed around the foot of the Gibel, before a turnoff led me on the trail towards the summit. Reaching the top shortly afterwards, the views from there were beautiful as well and for once I had to share it with a fellow hiker. That was no problem though, as like me, he rather preferred to listen to Mother Nature than to talk all the time. :)
Eventually, the time had come to head back to Lungern and at first I retraced my steps over the snowfield to that junction I had passed an hour or so earlier. Turning left this time, I continued to walk downwards and while in the beginning there still was a view here and there, there was none anymore once the woods had swallowed me for good. Well, not entirely none, but only because I decided to pay a viewpoint called Schild a visit as well. :) The panorama from the Schild was spectacular, but also the walk to get there was super beautiful, as it led through today’s most gorgeous part of the forest. At the viewpoint, I took another break, enjoying a pause from all the trees around me. :)
The time was running fast however and too soon I had to say goodbye to the Schild. Retracing my steps to the turnoff, I continued my descent towards Lungern, initially heading along some meadows and another gravel road until I had reached the next junction. From there I had two possibilities and naturally decided to go with the easier one of them. :) That meant that I had to walk along the gravel road for some more until a sign led me off the road and back onto a proper hiking trail again.
While the signage and the beginning of that trail were perfectly fine, it started to lack just after I had taken another turnoff towards the Burgkapelle. The signs started to be few and far between and the path was so overgrown that I hardly recognized it anymore. :) Thanks to my GPS I didn't get lost, but I was glad once that part was over and I was back on a paved road. It led me all the way down to the Burgkapelle and while the chapel itself was a bit of a disappointment, there was one last good view towards Lake Lungern. Enjoying the outlook for a while, the only thing left to do afterwards was to follow the railway line back to the station of Lungern. Arriving there at around 6 o’clock in the evening, I was tired but happy how today had turned out. The weather and the scenery had been perfect and the couple surprises along the way added something extra that turned the hike into a very memorable one. :)
Highlight of the day: definitely the fantastic Güpfi
This hike is for you if:
- you’re looking for the best views over the Lake Lungern
- you want to visit loads of peaks and viewpoints in just one day :)
- you like to do a breathtaking ridge walk
- you want to escape the beaten path
This hike is not for you if:
- you have vertigo
- an ascent/descent over 1500 meters difference in altitude is too much for you
- it’s your very first hike in the mountains
Comments