April 20 - Hike from Cureggia almost to Alpe Bolla on Monte Boglia, Ticino

A beautiful, clear day in Lugano...so Rick and I took the #9 bus from Pregassona up to Cureggia (the steepest climb! Bus is great for this part!) There are not many buses up to Cureggia, so we had to wait until 11:57 to get a bus - this is the one that also takes the little school kids home for lunch. Besides the driver, we are usually the only passengers over 6 or 7 years old! 

From the bus stop in the center of Cureggia we follow the yellow hiking path signed to Alpe Bolla. An alpe is where cows or sheep would normally be brought up to in order to graze. Many Alpe will have a "capanna" where you could get a meal and sleep. It's a little too early in the season for them to be open. This hike takes us along the side of Monte Boglia. We will try to get up to Alpe Bolla and back to catch the 3:45 bus back down. After all, our neighbor often jogs up to the top and back in the mornings - she says her record is 1 hour 9 minutes to Alpe Bolla. Let's see how we do......

 A couple minutes into our walk along the side of the mountain and we come upon a little religious grotto. These are very common in Switzerland - especially in Ticino! 

 40 minutes into our hike and we come to our first open view - an old grotto/restaurant that is currently closed and needs a little TLC. Here we are looking down on Lugano and its suburbs. What looks like a white cloud just above the mountains a bit left of center is really snow-covered Monte Rosa, the tallest mountain in Switzerland - 15,204 feet. 

We were able to take advantage of some nice picnic benches at the grotto (called Alpe Pietragrossa, or  Preda Grossa if you're looking on Google Earth. ) It took us 40 minutes to reach this grotto. I use Galileo off-line maps app to track our route - great app! It even shows the hiking paths! But we still have a long way to go.

 Enjoying a homemade sandwich and a great view from Alpe Pietragrossa.

  The gate to enter the Alpe Pietragrossa. So nice that the Swiss don't have everything all fenced off and gated shut, and we are free to enter to have our lunch. 

And the amazing thing.... there was a jeep parked in a little "garage" at this grotto! Now, how in the world did that jeep get up here! There is a very narrow dirt road - you'd never know it's a road, as it looks like a path, that the Swiss manage to drive on to get to amazing places in these mountains! 

Here and there we see huge trees that have uprooted and fallen - especially during heavy rains on the steep slope. Rick stands below one of these huge monsters! You see the pieces are cut. Someone always comes and "cleans up" the forest and the paths, clearing away trees that block one's way. 

 Other than lunch at the abandoned grotto, there are no open views, as we hike through the forest - but the forest is so peaceful and beautiful! I love every step! 

Lime green spring colors of leaves and moss. 

We hike up about 35 minutes more, and from our map app we see that we still have about 45 minutes more to go. Rick wanted to try, but my legs are already tired! Besides, if we continue, we'd have 5 minutes to enjoy ourselves up there and then have to hurry down. We decide to turn back - we will do the entire hike another day and start out earlier in the morning. 

On our way back down, we decide to hike just a bit on the "road" that had led out from our lunch grotto. Because of this "road", you can find little mountain houses along the way. I'm standing by one house, looking towards the next - and the steep slope! Don't try to cut this grass - let the cows, goats or sheep do it!

Here you get a view of this "road" I'm talking about. I've been in a car once on one of these roads on this mountain - very scary, as there are drop offs and no guard rails! 

Just my hubby giving me a kiss on the mountain!

Our mossy, mountain path

Ahhh, we are back to civilization! Just in time for the 3:45 bus from Cureggia. 

It took us 1 1/2 hours to get back from where we decided to turn around - good idea! Still can't believe my neighbor can run up to Alpe Bolla near the top in just 1 hour 9 min!!! And that is from Pregassona, below - and we are taking the bus back there because it's SO steep!!!

  

April 14 - Brig to Lugano with a stop high up in Bettmeralp - land of snow!

It's amazing that it can be so warm down in the valley, and yet there is still snow in the town of Bettmeralp - all the roads are snow packed! 

In past years, as we climbed the Simplon Pass to return to Lugano, I have seen towns so high up across the valley - I always wanted to go up there! So on our way from Brig to Lugano, we went the route of the Glacier Express (but took the local train), and made a stop at Betten Talstation and took the cable car up to Bettmeralp. There, we found quite a large tourist ski town still with several feet of snow! There are no cars up there - like Zermatt. Taxis are snowmobiles - we even saw a paramedic snowmobile. 

It's a bit treacherous walking on the snow, and then suddenly someone comes whizzing past on skis! When people are finished skiing they just ski home! 

The views were breathtaking and I would love to go back during the summer - I'm sure it's great hiking! This is on the south side of the Altesch Glacier - there are other cable cars going higher to see the glacier. 

The town is quite steep - the houses seem to be on the edge of the world. 

This is what a truck looks like in Bettmeralp - on treads! 

There are no sidewalks shoveled - nothing. I'm sure there is too much snow to even clean it up. 

And this is on April 14!

There was a ski school for pre-schoolers. So cute! After going down the very gentle slope, they stand on the VERY SLOWLY moving sidewalk to get back to the top. The little girl on the moving sidewalk looks to be no more than 3. 

A larger view of the pre-school ski school.

Ok, a little bit is shovel here - but that's all I saw. 

Now, look closely between the houses at the mountains in the distance. What do you see? The Matterhorn!!!! This is the first time I've ever had a real good view of the Matterhorn.

View of the town, and the Matterhorn is the little pointy peak in the distance - about in the middle.

Zoomed in shot of the Matterhorn.

Bettmeralp church

It was so pleasant up here - absolutely no wind, about 44 degrees. We sat outside in a cafe and had some hot chocolate. We see this mom go by on skis, pulling her daughter behind - the child has something between her legs that the rope is attached to. Also, there were no strollers - small children were on comfy sleds! 

Enjoying our hot chocolate in Bettmeralp. You see how warm it was? No need for a hat or gloves, or the warmer jacket. 

Bettmeralp panoramic

We very carefully walked by the church that you saw in a previous picture. 

Rick decides to talk a walk on this 1 foot wide strip of open grass - really, there is a drop off behind him! 

We didn't dare try to sit on the bench - couldn't tell where the ground ended and the cliff began. 

You can see one of the ski runs in the upper left. 

On the cable car down. This guy actually had been riding his bike in town - with all the snow. 

A very roomy cable car back down to Betten Talstation. 

We then continue our train ride through the Furka pass (tunnel), over to Andermatt, then down the valley to catch the train to Lugano. 

Amazing how much we saw and did in just 2 days! 

I love Switzerland! 

April 13 - Chamonix - Aiguille du Midi 12,605 feet high - On top of the world!

An exciting day! We get up early to take the ride up to the Aiguille (needle) du Midi, 12,605 feet high, and enjoy the clear skies. Before we head out, we make sure we enjoy a cappuccino and chocolate croissant at a cafe.

I have lots of pictures here - I just wanted to post them all so you can enjoy! 

Zoomed in view of the Aiguille du Midi early in the morning from our hotel balcony - with the moonrise behind it. 

There are actually two cable cars. The first stops at what is called Plan de l'Aiguille. We are waiting for the next cable car. The Aiguille is still so much higher up! 

It's SO fascinating up here! The amazing thing is that people come up here and ski at their own risk. In this picture, skiers are slowly and carefully making their way down a roped path to the open area. They need crampons on their boots and hold on tight!
Ten years ago I was here with my sister. There were no ropes and we saw about 5 people roped together walking that skinny ridge! 

Same view more panned out

Here you can see just exactly how perilous it is for those skiers! The valley and town of Chamonix is way down on the left - so small!

Looking off one of the walk-ways up there, Rick spots some mountain climbers. I can't imagine how they got there and where they are going - it's frightening to watch! Ok, to find them, look at the white strip of snow in the middle of the picture... on the left in the white strip, you see one dot. If you zoom in, you'll see several people. Scary scary! 

Me in front of this funny rock! 

The funny rock again - with a construction site on the left!

Panoramic of the area

View west with valley down on right

There are two parts to the Aiguille, connected by a walkway/tunnel. Gives you an idea how high we are! Amazing to know there are bathrooms and restaurants up here! 

Closer look at the funny rock - see the workers on the left?

Now check out this guy chopping away at something on the side of the mountain! How much does he get paid for that job?! 

Rick in one of the ice tunnels, which leads to the top of the roped walkway out to the snow field to ski. 

The sign at the top of this roped walkway. Ski at your own risk! 

Sign says no access for pedestrians. It's only for risk-taking skiers with crampons! See them down in the distance?

Ok ok, I know I have a similar picture - but I told you I'm sharing them all! 

One of the skiers getting ready to go out. This is not just skiing - see the ropes, carabiners, ice picks and all. Yikes! He and another guy were going out with a girl, and I heard her say that she was finally completing something from her bucket list. Oh, not me! 

Breathtaking Alps

Breathtaking Alps

Mont Blanc, tall white one in the far back, from one of the terraces on the Aiguille du Midi

I did a vertical panoramic of the Aiguille - the top up there was closed due to renovations. You can see off to the right up there is a glass box - like on the Willis Tower in Chicago, where you can walk into the void!
Now here's something.... Look carefully at the line going up and down in the center of this big rock - it's actually a climbing rope that obviously some use to climb it! Part of the rope is white because it's iced over.
At the bottom of the rock (well, at least in the picture) you can see the windows of one of the tunnels inside. 

There are metal walkways to get to different levels for viewing. 

Me at the top of the world! 

Rick going down the steps

We are now back at the Plan de l'Aiguille - it is still impressively high! 

Rick at the Plan de l'Aiguille, with the valley below in back

At the Plan de l'Aiguille

Back in Chamonix, and lunch in the sun! I must say, every time we go to France, we truly enjoy eating! The food is heavenly!

This guy has been here forever, giving rides in his wagon. 

Notice the umbrella on the horse's head! 

Now we are back on the train heading back to Martigny. Even though we did this train ride the day before, it's still breathtaking and the views are different going in the other direction. This is shortly after leaving Chamonix - one of the next smaller towns. The Aiguille and Mont Blanc can still be seen. 

I try to take a picture that shows how high we are and that the gorge goes way deep below us. 

I see cables running to the little cluster of homes on the opposite ledge. Sometimes there is no other way to get supplies over there than by cable. 

Back in the Swiss side of the valley, we stopped at a small town called Les Marécottes. We explored the town after leaving our bags at the station. This picture shows a typical Swiss barn - where it is propped up and sitting on flat stones. Why? The mice can't get around those flat stones - they slip off, thus, they can't get to the food inside the barn! 

Some remote towns have old bread ovens that the residents used to use - and maybe still do! I'm sure the bread tastes wonderful! 

Beautiful spring flowers coming up in Les Marécottes. 

Les Marécottes

We came upon a small dam up high in Les Marécottes

We continued our way back into the Valais Valley to the town of Brig, where we stayed the night. The weather has been so unusually warm that we were able to have dinner outside in the square, as we did in Chamonix. As we travel down this valley, the language changes from all French, to a mixture of French and German, to German and some Italian.  By the time we arrive in Brig I'm not sure what language to speak! Italy is just over the Simplon (Sempione) Pass just up from Brig. 

I saw this menu from a Mexican restaurant in Brig. The Swiss have always told us it was expensive to eat in a Mexican restaurant in Switzerland. They are right - look at these prices! The franc and dollar are almost equal. 4 Tacos for 39 francs! 29 francs for a Burrito! Wow!