May 18, 2017 - Over the Lucomagno Pass

My final weekend in Switzerland and we were lucky enough for Rick to have some days off from coaching, so we rented a car for 4 days. We stayed basically in the south, because the weather was not good at all north of the Alps.
So day 1 of our car rental, we drove through Valle di Blenio to the Lucomagno Pass (Lukmanier in German).

A little drizzly at the top of the Lucomagno Pass

Green pastures north of the pass.

We stop in this area north of the pass to find some place to eat our picnic lunch.

Well look here! The farmer mowed a path right to this pretty bench where we ate our lunch.

Whoever thought dandelions could be so beautiful? And they were huge!

Too bad it was a little cloudy. My pictures don't do this valley justice - it's one of the most beautiful - especially in the spring.

This area is called Medels im Oberland

As we were driving down the road, I spot a high ropes course over the river and made Rick turn around and go back to see it.
There are various challenges going back and forth across the river. I know it's hard to see, but each step changes slightly, like wider to narrower.

Another view of the high ropes course. Unfortunately it is too difficult to see the climbing paths along the side to get from one suspended bridge to another.  

So, we are over the pass and at the end of the Medel valley, and now we come into another valley that is perpendicular to the first.  We are only half way over the Alps, as this valley is the high Rhine Valley. We are near the town of Disentis, looking east.

By Disentis, looking back at the Medel valley

Rhine valley looking west. I love Swiss cows!

We drive up to a smaller town just west of Disentis called Segnas, park the car, and just start hiking in a field.
There was barely a path to follow.

Looking back down on the town of Segnas

On the way back to the car we see a section of the mountain that had obviously at one time collapsed. It was very fairy tale like! We were waiting for some Hobbits to come out!

Back near Segnas, we hike up to the typical Swiss, red bench for a snack and a great view!

Looking back down on the main valley floor, you can see the famous Glacier express train go by.

We drove a little east of Disentis where we saw the old, original bridge over this ravine, and the new road bridge and train bridge next to it. On the right is the old roadway along the mountain. The bridge is covered and the sides high so as not to frighten the horses. 

On the old wooden bridge

View through a bridge peephole

The old road, now grass covered.