Luca In The Alps

🥾 Overview Starting Point:  Haut de Caux (1,180 m) Summit Altitude:  2,045 m Elevation Gain:  ~865 m Distance:  ~12 km Time (round trip):  4-5 hours (depending on route) Difficulty:  Moderate (some steep paths and snow risk in early season) Best Season:  Mid-June to October Highlights: Cogwheel train station at the summit Marmots & panoramic views of Lake Geneva Alpine botanical garden with a Buddhist stupa Optional K5 via ferrata for thrill-seekers Download GPS file Rocher de Naye  can be considered a classic – even if I don’t hike it every year. It’s a renowned destination near where I live, known for its iconic cogwheel mountain train – perhaps the only one in French-speaking Switzerland that rivals those in Central Switzerland. While there are many ways to reach the summit, I usually start from  Haut de Caux  (1180 m), where you’ll find a small parking area right next to the train station of the same name. Route Options from Hau...

Overview Starting point:  Alpnachstad Station (450m) Summit:  Pilatus Kulm (2070m) + Esel (2118m) Highest point:  Esel Distance:  1,680m of elevation gain incuding Esel Duration:  around 4-5 hours up Optional shortcut:  Take the funicular to Ämsigen mid-station (1350m) to cut the hike in half Descent:  Funicular down (or same way on foot for an even bigger adventure!) Download GPS file I started from  Alpnachstad Station  at 450m, right at the base of the Pilatusbahn funicular. Parking can fill up quickly, so it’s best to arrive early or avoid weekends if you can. From the base, you backtrack slightly through town to find a sign pointing uphill to  Pilatus Kulm . Within minutes, you rise above the houses and get sweeping views of the lake below. The first stretch follows the funicular tracks across green pastures—an idyllic start! Eventually, you pass underneath the funicular and enter the forest. A short road section follows, until a pa...

Overview Start : Harderbahn funicular top station (1300 m) End : Augstmatthorn summit (2137 m) Elevation gain : ~960 m (return including ups and down along the ridge) Total time : ~6h at a brisk pace (3h10 up, 2h40 down) Length : 17.5km return Return : Same way or alternative descents to Lombachalp (bus) or Riggisberg (train) Pro tip : Start early to avoid queues at Harderbahn, and treat yourself to a cappuccino at Harderkulm! Download GPS  The hike to Augstmatthorn begins at the top station of the Harderbahn funicular . While it’s possible to start from the bottom, that would make for a veeeeeeery long day—and besides, the funicular is fun! Just note that on weekends it can get busy , with long queues. I visited on a Saturday: I didn’t have to wait for the first run at 9:10, but I waited a good 40 minutes for the return trip at 15:00. From the top station (1300 m), a short paved path leads to Harderkulm and its viewing platform overlooking Interlaken. Just be...

Overview Starting point:  Moléson-sur-Gruyère funicular base station (1100 m) Highest point and destination:  2022 m Ascent time:  ~2.5 hours Difficulty:  Moderate (steep sections) Options:  Hiking trail or via ferrata (K4 or K5) Download GPS fIle Moléson is another of my classics. I do it almost every year—it’s a perfect spring hike: long enough to train, low enough to be snow-free by mid-May, and with the added bonus of the Magic Pass cable car for a quick descent. It’s ideal for a half-day outing. The hike begins just left of the funicular station in Moléson-sur-Gruyère. A gravel road leads up through picturesque pastures dotted with alpages and cows—it looks like being in a Swiss postcard. After about 15 minutes, the road steepens significantly (it is a good training trail I said after all!). Here, you’ll see a trail sign showing two options for reaching the summit. In fact to get to the summit you have to turn around the mountain and reach it from behind ...