Weggis, Switzerland - September 27-30, 2018






September 27 - Lift from Weggis - Train to Rigi Kulm - Hike to Rigi Scheidegg - Train to Rigi Kulm and Down to Lift to Weggis
September 28 (AM) - Ferry from Weggis to Kehrsiten - Train to Burgenstock- Hike to Ennetburgen
September 28 (PM) - (Bus to Emmetten) - Lift to Niederbauen - Hike to Niederbauen Chulm - Lift to Bus to Ferry Beckenried to Viznau - Walk Vitznau to Weggis
September 29 - Bus from Weggis to Schlattli - Inclined Train to Stoos - Lift to Klingenstock - Hike to Fronalpstock - Lift - Train - Bus to Weggis
In and Around Weggis


My European hiking adventures in 2018 took place with bases in Weggis and Engelberg, Switzerland. On my way to Weggis, I stopped in the Tourist Office in the Luzern train station (an hour by train from Zurich airport) and purchased a 10-day 'Tell-Pass'.  It was expensive, at 300 CHF (Swiss Francs), about $300US, but it gave me free lifts, buses, trains, and boat ferries for both the Weggis/Luzern and Engelberg areas. It felt expensive when I bought it, but it paid for itself several times over. Transport is expensive in Switzerland; one round-trip lift to a destination high-point can easily run to $75 or $100. If you're planning to travel in this scenic, user-friendly region, I encourage you to consider the Tell-Pass.




September 27 - Lift from Weggis - Train to Rigi Kulm - Hike to Rigi Scheidegg - Train to Rigi Kulm and Down to Lift to Weggis




Runkeeper Info

Route Map

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I arrived in Weggis at about noon. Unpacked briefly and left to walk to the lift, intending to lift/ride up Rigi Kulm and then hike across to Rigi Scheidegg.


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My hotel clerk had said I could make the next lift. But as I walked, I could see the gondola ascending, so I had missed it. It was shoulder season, so the cars were running infrequently.


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  I enjoyed a leisurely first walk through the Weggis waterfront.

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This gondola lift would port me from Weggis up to Rigi Kaltbad.

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Arriving at the train platform in Rigi Kaltbad, I could see that I had 40 minutes to wait for the train to the top.

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I was consternated, because I could see this train headed uphill (my intended direction), with space on it. But I figured out quickly that this was not the 'real' train, but some historic model being used to film an ad or promo piece.

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An hour later, I had trained to the summit: Rigi Kulm.

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Looking back at the train 'station'. I'd ridden the red train up from Rigi Kaltbad.

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From the hotel, a paved tourist path led up to the summit, passing this sign that I recognized as the cover photo of my edition of Lonely Planet's 'Walking in Switzerland'.

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I wasn't sure what the helicopter was about, but it just compounded the sense of overabundant activity at this tourist trap.

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Quite the impressive antenna structure on the summit. I didn't bother to climb to the observation platform. I could see the vista perfectly well from the ground.

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As soon as I started walking, there were people on the trail, but I left the general mayhem behind me on the summit.

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At first, the trail paralleled the train tracks.

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Lake Luzern.

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These ad displays for a nearby restaurant did not seem particularly appetizing.

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The trail led to a promontory, called Chanzeli, with a celebrated view - and a labeled panorama.

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It was a sunny, pleasant, late-September day, but the air was a bit murky.

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My walking route led me back to Rigi Kaltbad, where I had earlier caught the train to the summit.

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Pooper Scoopers Unite!

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I finally reached the summit plateau of Rigi Scheidegg. I didn't linger to explore the summit; I hoped I could get back to Weggis while transport was still running.

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I lifted down from Rigi Scheidegg to catch a train back up to the Rigi Kulm summit.

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Back at the top, I found the facility - and this curious sign...

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Early evening view from the summit of Rigi Kulm.

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I thought I'd have to train all the way down to Vitznau and take the bus to get back to Weggis. But when we arrived at Rigi Kaltbad, a large contingent got off the train bound for the Weggis lift - that was still running! Cool!






September 28 (AM) - Ferry from Weggis to Kehrsiten - Train to Burgenstock- Hike to Ennetburgen




Runkeeper Info

Route Map



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The ferry schedule for Weggis.

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Getting on a Lake Luzern ferry.

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Leaving Weggis on the ferry, my hotel, 'Alpenblick', was visible overlooking Lake Luzern.

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This is a tragically truncated view of Pilatus, a majestic peak located southwest of Luzern.  If I'd had an extra day, I probably would have used my Tell Pass to train up it.


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The ferry docked at the Kehrsiten base station for the inclined train up to Burgenstock Resort.

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There was a small museum at the base station.

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Getting off the inclined train at Burgenstock.

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Exiting the train, passengers had to pass through the tourist shop.

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I didn't enter any buildings, but walked across the resort to find my walking route.

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My route followed a civilized tourist path, sometimes graveled, sometimes concrete, with a guard rail where appropriate.

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The trail I followed travelled a largely horizontal route, with parts of it etched into the side of the peninsula.


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Looking across Lake Luzern toward Weggis - and Rigi Kulm, which I'd been atop the previous day.

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If you got bored while you were walking, you could play Q & A.


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Partway along my route, there was an elevator up to the crest of the peninsula, Hammetschwand.



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I rode the lift up.

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The psychedelic German dinosaur may have been trying to tell me not to use the bathroom unless I ate in the restaurant. But I don't speak German, so I waited in line for the WC.

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Looking west toward Pilatus from Hammetschwand.

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Portions of the path were incised into the side of the peninsula.

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And there were steel nets to prevent injury from falling rocks.

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There were tunnels. The longer ones were equipped with lights.

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Looking out a 'window' in the tunnel wall.

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Looking across Lake Luzern at Weggis.

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I'd reached the end of the horizontal, incised trail and continued on to a steep section with plentiful safety appurtenances: steps, guard rails, etc.

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Industrial-strength direction sign.

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I sometimes encounter wooden steps on trails, but rarely metal ones.

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My trail thru the woods ended at this picturesque chapel of St. Jost.

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Now my route led me through the pastoral outskirts of Ennetburgen.

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Eventually, I made my way to a bus stop in central Ennetburgen.






September 28 (PM) - (Bus from Ennetburgen to Emmetten) - Lift to Niederbauen - Hike to Niederbauen Chulm - Lift to Bus to Ferry Beckenried to Viznau - Walk Vitznau to Weggis




Runkeeper Info

Route Map

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After busing from Ennetburgen to Emmetten, I lifted up to Niederbauen.

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The path toward Niederbauen Chulm led past this paraglider launch site.

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Lake Luzern, also called Vierwaldstattersee.

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I rarely remember to take 'selfies', but the kind hiker I encountered on the summit offered...

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Another labeled panorama.

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I took a different, shorter route down. There were steep drop-offs adjacent, but the way did not feel precipitous.

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Back at the paraglider launch pad.

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Back at the lift station, I got on the cozy lift down to Emmetten.  Then caught the bus to Beckenried to board a ferry to Vitznau.

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Looking southwest from the Beckenried ferry dock.  I believe Niederbauen Chulm is the summit on the left.

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Approaching Vitznau.

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The train yard for the train from Vitznau to Rigi Kulm

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The train yard incorporated a turntable for managing the trains.


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I'd thought I would catch the bus from Vitznau to Weggis; after two hikes already that day, I'd had enough. But instead, I walked the hour back to Weggis.

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September 29 - Bus from Weggis to Schlattli - Inclined Train to Stoos - Lift to Klingenstock - Hike to Fronalpstock - Lift - Train - Bus to Weggis




Runkeeper Info

Route Map
On my last full day in Weggis, I awoke to a grey, gloomy day with possible drizzle/rain. A ridge walk had been recommended. I figured a ridge walk might be pleasant, even if it was wet with no views. I set off to the bus, and waited at the ferry dock, where I had caught buses previously. I saw that it was 'Market Day'. I didn't realize - until I saw my intended bus pass by in the distance - that the ferry dock bus stop does not operate on 'Market Day'. I had to wait another hour for the next bus, so I wandered around and took some photos of the 'Market'. Those photos are visible here. I took two buses to arrive at the base of 'the steepest train in the world' that would carry me to 'Stoos'.
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It was a bit of a walk from Stoos, in the foggy distance, to the lift up to Klingenstock.

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Approaching the lift.

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It had been a dreary, cloudy day when I'd gotten on the lift below. Riding up the lift, I passed through the cloud and, to my surprise, I emerged above it!  Wow! Who knew?!

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Definitely cool! I was facing a spectacular ridge walk out in the open, above the clouds!

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Yes, it was charming and scenic walk!

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The biggest effort of the day was the 200m ascent to the final summit, Fronalpstock.

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Looking back at the route I'd followed.

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Scenic spot for archery practice!

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Welcome to the summit of Fronalpstock.

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If you can't find a good viewpoint, maybe you should try this 'foto plattform' for a better view.

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I lifted down toward Stoos.

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The chairlift descended back into the clouds.

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I walked back to the inclined train station.

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The 'inclined train' started out horizontal. Each of the four cylindrical compartments that comprise the train rotate freely about a horizontal axis.  So the standing passengers remain upright, regardless of the incline on which the train is proceeding.

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While I waited for the bus, across the street, I caught this view of the inclined train and its rotating cylinders.

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I bused back to the city of Schwys to wait briefly for a bus back to Weggis. Bus schedules are routinely posted at bus stops in Switzerland.

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In and Around Weggis




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Normally, I would catch the bus here at the ferry dock.

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But ooops, it's 'Market Day'.  I figured out - too late to catch my intended bus - that buses take another route thru town on 'Market Day'.

10:47:49
2018:09:29
Market Day!

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10:52:21
2018:09:29
The mowers would have made quick work of the flower beds. I resisted temptation.

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2018:09:29
Traction in the gnarliest of circumstances!

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2018:09:29

10:54:54
2018:09:29
A plenitude of bovine beasts in downtown Weggis!

10:55:16
2018:09:29


17:09:37
2018:09:29
When I got back to Weggis after my ridge walk above the clouds, there was a concert in the park.

17:42:38
2018:09:29
The hosemen were cleaning up after all the cattle that were here several hours earlier.

17:49:42
2018:09:29
A final post-Market-Day rinse.



09:31:40
2018:09:29
The breakfast spread at my hotel, Alpenblick.

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18:12:59
2018:09:29
My room at the hotel.

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09:48:26
2018:09:30
Hotel decorations.

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10:13:50
2018:09:28
Lagerbier Hell!




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