Hiking Mt.Rigi - 22nd June

2006-07-16-hiking-mt-rigi-22nd-june

A description of cover image.

Queen of Swiss Mountains

From Zurich we went to Mt. Rigi via Arth-Goldau a very short train ride.

From there we took the cogwheel train to the summit at Rigi-Kulm

(1,800m). Incredible vistas, typical Swiss farmhouses, and hundreds of

cows with bells will surprise one throughout the trip. Reward on going

to top is magnificent panorama of Alpine peaks crowding around the

convoluted contours of Lake Lucerne. While going up it was a nice

weather but slowly & slowly it started getting dark. On a clear day it

seems one can see Mount Titlis.

Perhaps the most glorious hike I’ve enjoyed in Switzerland is from Rigi

Kulm to Vitznau. This trail is not listed in the guide map. But we

wanted to reach Vitzanu to take ferry to Luzern. As we did not wanted to

spent any more money on those special Swiss mountain cog-wheel train.

The trail is well defined. I believe most people prefer to hike up but

it was just opposite in our case. The first part till Rigi Kaltbad

(1438m) is easy. After that, steepness of down hill increased as we came

down with a view of Lake Luzern from time to time.

With greenery all around & Swiss cows wearing engraved and embroidered

cowbells; the lazy grazing of the placid beasts sends a tinkling melody

rippling across the clear mountain air. Serenity all the way far from

those hustle –bustle busy life of city is something worth. Lake

stretching all the way on one side and while on other is Europe’s

greatest mountains. Believe me, now I understand what it means to have

hiking poles as at the end of this hike I almost killed two of my legs.

After that I lost my normal walking style for next few days.

On reaching Vitznau we had our afternoon meal. We boarded a ferry and

enjoyed the lovely boat ride to Luzern (one hour). Time at leisure,

visited the city’s main sights of the Old Town, like the famous Chapel

Bridge which is a main touristy sight of the city. After visiting top

sights of the city we returned to Zurich for one last time.

16 Jul   2006

Glacier Express - 20th June

2006-07-16-glacier-express-20th-june

16 Jul   2006

Mount Jungfraujoch - 23rd June

2006-07-16-mount-jungfraujoch-23rd-june