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[CH] Hiking at Rigi, Jungfrau and Gornergrat (with pics)

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k-c-p

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22 Jan 2013
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Hello,

a vacation in 2020 requires flexibility. Due to raising Covd numbers I had to scrap my plans of touring the Atlantic coast in France. Instead, I went hiking in Switzerland. A few impressions from my tours at Rigi, Jundfraujoch and Gornergrat

Rigi

On a sunny September day I hopped on the Arth-Rigi-Railway in Arth-Goldau for a day of hiking. Trains of the Arth-Rigi- and Vitznau-RigiRailway side by side on the mountain top station Rigi Kulm.

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From up there you have a magnificent few on the different lakes in the vicinity

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A train of Vitznau-Rigi-Ralway on the final stretch towards the top. The tracks on the right belong to the Arth-Rigi-Railway.

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Quite a bit of traffic at Rigi Staffel

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Do you prefer a more vintage style of travel?

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A view from a afar. The antenna tower is used for broadcasting TV and radio

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Zooming through the foliage

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This looks liek a miniatur railway :)

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A small train in a big landscape

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Jungfrau

I could not resist the 50% off offer that the Jungfraujoch Railways granted to holders of a German BahnCard (I guess they want make up at least some the revenue they loose because Americans and Asians stay away this year). The weather at the top was not good, but it was fun nonetheless
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A trains of the Jungfrau Railway climbing up the mountain.

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The terminal station "Jungfraujoch"

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On the way up there is a stop for a quick photo of the "Eismeer"

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The whole trip is marketed as "Top of Europe" and some stuff is borderline to kitsch: For instance this:

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But the "Eispalast" was cool (literally :))

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I have to watch this DVD again

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I came up on the Wengernalp Railway from Grindelwald and transfered to the Jungfrau Railway at "Kleine Scheidegg". A Jungfrau bound trains waits for the run.

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An alternate route to "Kleine Scheidegg" is from "Lauterbrunnen". This Wengernalp Railway train heading down there

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At station "Grindelwald Grund" there is a depot of the Wengernalp Railway

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Gornergrat

I sent the most part of my vacation hiking in Zermatt. I want up to the Gornergrat multiple times by foot and rail. On one tour there quite a bit of fog. The chapel dedicated to Brother Klaus (aka Nicholas of Flüe) near the Riffelberg station. Brother Klaus is the patron saint of Switzerland.

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When the sun worked its way throught the fog the scenary was just fantastic. Lay back and enjoy.

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The Gornergrat Railway in the mist

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And a few days later: There was snow.

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For my the best way to relax: Hiking in a beautiful landscape.

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A like the colour of the lake

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MGB

And finally: A few snapshots of the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Railway. A Glacierexpress train at dusk

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A train passing along one of the many galleries that protect the line from rubble and snow

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This train has pulled into a siding near Täsch and waits for an oncoming train

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Zoom over the siding to the gallery

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A freight train to Zermatt.

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One of the shuttles that carries passengers from the parking garage in Täsch to Zermatt

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This wraps up this little report from my vacation in the alps

Stay save.
Charly
 
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eastwestdivide

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17 Aug 2009
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Excellent. There's a few people here who are missing their annual trip to the Alps, so thanks.

You were lucky with the weather and the views on the Rigi, and it looks like they still have the nearly-simultaneous departures from the summit "racing" down to Staffel.
 

30907

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30 Sep 2012
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20,617
Location
Airedale
Thank you - I was particularly struck by the 8-car train on the WAB. I last used the line 20 years ago with the old trains (as in the depot photo) and they always operated with one motor car plus trailer (or 2 sometimes?) but 2-3 trains close together.
 

peteb

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Joined
30 Mar 2011
Messages
1,497
Great report and photos, many thanks, will hope to check out some of these locations in 2021!
 
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