April 29, 2017 - Fluelen and cable up to Eggberge

After a week of rain, the skies cleared to reveal lots of snow on the higher mountains. The contrast is so pretty between the green valley and the snowcapped mountains. Since more rain will be on its way, we decided to take a train ride north of the Alps. I wanted to take a lift up higher in the mountains, and I wasn't sure what the conditions would be, since there was so much snow and we didn't have boots - only hiking shoes. At the last minute I chose our destination of Eggberge, which I saw on the map as having a cable lift, in Fluelen.

Clearing skies in Lugano and snowcapped mountains - and palm trees! 

Lugano

What a sight as we go up up and see all the snow up on Eggberge!

From Eggberge, looking down on the Urnersee, near Fluelen

There were many homes or vacation homes way up here (and farms) and we followed the little road where the snow was flattened by the snowcat machine. Otherwise it would have been way too deep to walk in, 

There weren't many visitors up there today, but we saw some other hikers, or snowshoe hikers and even a skier! 

We passed a few benches, but of course they were covered in lots of snow. We were looking for a place to sit down and eat the lunch that we packed. We find a spot with two benches - and what a surprise! There is a snow shovel in a holder alongside one of the benches! Well how handy! 

The snow shovel! Also, after walking uphill in the snow, we are very hot. The sun is so warm and there is no wind at all. 

Rick shovels off the bench for our lunch

So great to have a shovel!

We made good sandwiches!

As I said, we were so hot after hiking a while. Really, you could sunbathe in a bathing suit - or with your shirt off! 

A rule of hiking in the snow in the mountains - ALWAYS stay on the path - you don't know where there might be a crevice or river. Here, along the side of the road, we spot a hole in the snow. There is a stream running underneath - and flowers growing! I'm sure the fields up here were full of flowers, since Switzerland was experiencing a very warm spring - and then the big snow came. I'm sure all the spring flowers will pop right back up once it melts. 

Some of the homes high up here in Eggberge.

Looking over the Urnersee. Notice the green slopes near the lake. 

The snow was great for making snowballs!

One of the two restaurants up here. The Swiss sure know how to enjoy a view! 

Coming down on the cable looking north, over the Urnersee.

Coming down the cable, looking south, over Altdorf. 

We walked between Fluelen and Altdorf, stopping in the middle of the valley to enjoy the view to the south. 

Looking towards Altdorf. If you take that valley around to the left, you will go through the Klausenpass. 

In Altdorf, the cemetery surrounded the church. The dead always get the best view! 

A beautiful cemetery - Altdorf

Altdorf - commemorating William Tell

There was a farm in Altdorf, right in the middle of houses and apartment buildings. We stopped to see the cows.

I love the Swiss cows! 

We had walked to the next town, which was Shattdorf and caught the bus headed towards the Erstfeld train station. At one point the bus lets everyone off and tells us that to continue, we will need to take the next bus, coming in about 5 minutes. Well, that bus was a couple minutes late, so when we got to Erstfeld, our train was ready to leave. We RAN under and up to our track - just in time to watch the train pull away. 

So we now have an hour in Erstfeld, until the next train. We take a walk, since we've never visited the town. What we had mostly see of the town had been from the train, and one area outside of town had been a contruction site for years, as the new Gotthard Base Tunnel has an entrance/exit here in Erstfeld. 

We relax on a bench along the river in Erstfeld. 

Looking at these mountains from Erstfeld - they look like big monoliths up there! 

As we walk through a new area of homes in Erstfeld, I'd thought I'd share a playground picture. I love how the Swiss put the slide on a hill - no harm if a child falls off, plus they get used to climbing from the moment they walk!