May 16, 2017 Train up to Mt Pilatus, Cable down. WOW!

Today I took the train north of the Alps to a famous mountain near Luzern called Pilatus. I met one of my Swiss friends at the Luzern train station.  Rick could not join us as he was doing a presentation on Chicago and American Football at the local junior high. My friend planned a wonderful trip to this mountain which began with a boat ride from Luzern to the town of Alpnachstad, then a ride on the world's steepest cog-wheel train to the top, and then a cableway down the other side. Woo hoo!

Mt Pilatus from Lake Luzern. The top of that mountain is our destination - by train! Our boat ride will take about 1 hour. 

One of the views from our boat ride - it's probably one of the most heavenly sights you will ever see anywhere in the world! Photos don't do it justice, as you don't get all the peripheral views. 

My friend points out this mountain along the way. At the very front tip of the mountain there is  something straight up and down. It's an outdoor elevator - the highest elevator in Europe. My friend tells me that you can take a boat to the bottom and ride to the top! 

We are approaching Alpnachstad, where we see from the boat, one of the red trains beginning its trip up to Pilatus. 

Our boat after pulling up to Alpnachstad. 

There were a lot of people who got off the boat, and I was wondering how everyone would get up the mountain. What an organized operation! Everything went quickly and smoothly. Passengers coming down were left off the train, then the empty car came all the way down on the far left track. Once there, that bottom track piece moved to the right! The train filled up and up we went, while the next train came down on the tracks that were moved back to the left. Awesome!

 We had front row seats!   

Looking back down to the lake. We are on a steep climb! This is the WORLD'S STEEPEST COGWHEEL RAILWAY! The average incline is 38% but often is 48%. 

There is only one stop about 1/2 way up, by meadows and farms accessible only by the train or by foot. Unfortunately these photos don't give you the idea of how steep it is.

Up and up, the ride will take about 40 minutes. There are areas where the mountain fell off on the right AND the left, while we rode just on the width of those tracks. Very scary! The Swiss know how to give you a thrill!  

 

We are up to the snow and hugging the rock wall of the mountain. The train before us goes through a little tunnel. OMG! Such an exciting ride! And to think that this train route was built in 1889!!! How did they do that?

Looking back down from where we came. You can see the track. 

We are at the top! 7,000 feet. We will hike to this peak. The other peaks are closed and snow covered, and some require experience and hiking gear. Look closely at the rock face. You see a couple of dark spots, like caves. There is a tunnel so you can walk into the mountain and look out the "windows" at the view below! 

I am at the top!

From the station at Pilatus Kulm, looking back down at another train coming up. The little rock tunnel was on the other side of the rock cliff on the left.  

The hotel at the top of Pilatus. The line along the rock on the left is one of the paths that is closed. 

Enjoy the panorama! Notice the tiny train coming around the curve. 

In addition to the train, there is an Aerial Panorama Gondola to go down the opposite side, down to the area called Fräkmüntegg. From there it changes to an aerial cableway to another level called Krienseregg and then lastly to the town of Kriens.  

Our first view from one of the "windows" inside the mountain. The cableway is open year around, so when there's too much snow to climb, this gives people a chance for other views from inside!
Lake Luzern is below.

From one of the "windows", we see another outcropping of rock, which a CHURCH perched on the edge! Can you see it? You can also see the zig zag of the path - if you wish to take a LONG hike up! 

A little closer look at the church.

We hike up to the viewing area which is open. 

Panorama of train station at Pilatus and the hotel. 

Pilatus train station, restaurant, and visitor center, with the Gondola leaving the station. You can also see the snowcovered path to the other summit. 

View of Lake Luzern and Luzern and surrounding. 

Enjoying the mountain! 

Ready to take the Aerial Panorama Gondola! 

Going down to the Fräkmüntegg level. Do you see the zig zag in the meadow below?  That is Switzerland's longest summer toboggan run at allmost 1 mile long, at an altitude of 4,642 feet. This is only a partial view of the run. 

We get another view of the church and the hiking path. 

We enjoy a drink at Fräkmüntegg overlooking the toboggan run and part of the Suspension rope park. 

There are obviously a lot of tourists who come here from all over the world. I find this in the bathroom - to explain how it works. What??

From Fräkmüntegg down to Krienseregg we take the small Aerial Cableway which runs continuoulsy. We can either get off at Krienseregg or stay seated and continue on. 

Almost to the town of Kriens, I spot a castle!
From the cableway station we need to walk about 10 minutes down to the center of the city to catch the bus to the Luzern train station. We part ways there and I'm home by 8:15pm!
What an exciting day - I HIGHLY recommend this trip!