Engadine Hikes-Specifics
Apr 10th, 2010, 12:55 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Engadine Hikes-Specifics
Staying in a Fewo in Pontresina June 5 -10. Trying to make the best use of time for spectacular hikes/town visits, and have some detailed questions.
1) Won't be able to hike Punt Muragl to Alp Languard as lift only opens June 12.
Is it worth it to hike UP to Alp Languard and lift down (or vice versa), or would you just lift up and down after spending some time on the sun terrace?
2) The hike Ospizio Bernina to Alp Grum- anyone done it? I have a fear of narrow ledges and steep drop-offs. Would this be white-knuckle for me? The description reads "open heights".
3)Ingo**-- Plan to hike Scuol-Motta Naluns-Ftan-Prui-Ardez-?Guarda per one of your recommmendations to another member,, .BUT the cable Ftan to Prui is not in service this year. How is the hike from Ftan to Prui? We are two 40 something year-old women in moderately good shape.
4) Hike from Morteratsch to glacier and back recommended? See pics at http://didier.hayem.ch for marvelous views on this hike!
5) We are definitely taking the bus from Pontresina to Soglio, and are strongly considering then hiking to Promontogno and then on to Castasegna for looks at the small villages along the way. We would bus back to Pontresina from Castasegna.
Does this sound doable all in one day ( of course with a little shopping and eating at most of the towns)?
and finally,
6) How is the hike into Val Roseg? Worth squeezing in or letting go?
Sorry for long post, but really trying to tack it down!
Rach
1) Won't be able to hike Punt Muragl to Alp Languard as lift only opens June 12.
Is it worth it to hike UP to Alp Languard and lift down (or vice versa), or would you just lift up and down after spending some time on the sun terrace?
2) The hike Ospizio Bernina to Alp Grum- anyone done it? I have a fear of narrow ledges and steep drop-offs. Would this be white-knuckle for me? The description reads "open heights".
3)Ingo**-- Plan to hike Scuol-Motta Naluns-Ftan-Prui-Ardez-?Guarda per one of your recommmendations to another member,, .BUT the cable Ftan to Prui is not in service this year. How is the hike from Ftan to Prui? We are two 40 something year-old women in moderately good shape.
4) Hike from Morteratsch to glacier and back recommended? See pics at http://didier.hayem.ch for marvelous views on this hike!
5) We are definitely taking the bus from Pontresina to Soglio, and are strongly considering then hiking to Promontogno and then on to Castasegna for looks at the small villages along the way. We would bus back to Pontresina from Castasegna.
Does this sound doable all in one day ( of course with a little shopping and eating at most of the towns)?
and finally,
6) How is the hike into Val Roseg? Worth squeezing in or letting go?
Sorry for long post, but really trying to tack it down!
Rach
Apr 10th, 2010, 01:36 PM
#2
Hi mokka,
here's a link to a guide to walks in the Engadine by my friend [I love writing that] Kev Reynolds, who has been walking in that area for many years, and writes beautifully too.
http://www.kevreynolds.co.uk/Books5.html
it's published by cicero I think and you should be able to get it on Amazon, or even in your local library.
hope this helps,
regards, ann
here's a link to a guide to walks in the Engadine by my friend [I love writing that] Kev Reynolds, who has been walking in that area for many years, and writes beautifully too.
http://www.kevreynolds.co.uk/Books5.html
it's published by cicero I think and you should be able to get it on Amazon, or even in your local library.
hope this helps,
regards, ann
Apr 10th, 2010, 02:05 PM
#5
hi enzian - sorry about the name dropping. I used to live in the same village in Kent as Kev and his family, and we still exchange news and christmas cards with them. most of his walks are a bit ambitious for me, but the books are, as you say, good enough to read without necessarily intending to test them out!
Apr 11th, 2010, 01:08 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I see you have done quite a lot of research to ask such detailed questions. Bravo!
1) I would just take the chair lift Alp Languard up, have a hot chocolate on the terrace while admiring the views and then take the chair lift down.
2) Hm. I did the hike. The descent from Sassal Masone down to Alp Grüm is along a quite steep slope. Although it's not overly dramatic I'd say if you have problems with steep drop-offs you should skip it.
3) Did I really recommend Motta Naluns - Ftan - Prui - Ardez? Doesn't make sense. The logical order would be Motta Naluns - Prui - Ftan - Ardez. Yup, I saw the chair lift is replaced by a gondola this year. Too bad. So my recommendation is to go directly from Motta Naluns to Ftan, from there to Ardez. Skip Prui. The hike Prui - Ftan or vice versa is not too strenuous. An hour, not too steep.
4) I am torn on this. The problem is that you cannot see much of the glacier on that hike. You just see the end (the 'tongue' or 'mouth' of the glacier). But if you want to get really close to it then this is the right idea. I personally found the hike *to* the glacier rather boring. I much prefer the shorter hike to the viewing point Chünetta from Morteratsch. It's slightly elevated and you get a good view of the long glacier from there.
However, neither is a *must* for a stay of just four full days. The view from the train on the Bernina route (Montebello curve above Morteratsch) is at least as spectacular.
5) That's confusing. Why hike down from Soglio to Promontogno? I recommend to hike from Soglio down to Castasegna, from there via Bondo to Promontogno where you can catch the bus back to Pontresina. Or take the bus down to Promontogno, walk via Bondo to Castasegna.
6) The leg Pontresina station to Hotel Roseggletscher is rather boring and long without exciting views. I'd take the horse-drawn carriage to the hotel, hike from there to the lake - I bet you'll see icebergs swimming in the lake in June. It's quite a flat walk, nothing strenuous, for a day to recover from more exhausting hikes. Not sure if the carriages run in early June, though. Depends on whether the hotel is open or not I think.
1) I would just take the chair lift Alp Languard up, have a hot chocolate on the terrace while admiring the views and then take the chair lift down.
2) Hm. I did the hike. The descent from Sassal Masone down to Alp Grüm is along a quite steep slope. Although it's not overly dramatic I'd say if you have problems with steep drop-offs you should skip it.
3) Did I really recommend Motta Naluns - Ftan - Prui - Ardez? Doesn't make sense. The logical order would be Motta Naluns - Prui - Ftan - Ardez. Yup, I saw the chair lift is replaced by a gondola this year. Too bad. So my recommendation is to go directly from Motta Naluns to Ftan, from there to Ardez. Skip Prui. The hike Prui - Ftan or vice versa is not too strenuous. An hour, not too steep.
4) I am torn on this. The problem is that you cannot see much of the glacier on that hike. You just see the end (the 'tongue' or 'mouth' of the glacier). But if you want to get really close to it then this is the right idea. I personally found the hike *to* the glacier rather boring. I much prefer the shorter hike to the viewing point Chünetta from Morteratsch. It's slightly elevated and you get a good view of the long glacier from there.
However, neither is a *must* for a stay of just four full days. The view from the train on the Bernina route (Montebello curve above Morteratsch) is at least as spectacular.
5) That's confusing. Why hike down from Soglio to Promontogno? I recommend to hike from Soglio down to Castasegna, from there via Bondo to Promontogno where you can catch the bus back to Pontresina. Or take the bus down to Promontogno, walk via Bondo to Castasegna.
6) The leg Pontresina station to Hotel Roseggletscher is rather boring and long without exciting views. I'd take the horse-drawn carriage to the hotel, hike from there to the lake - I bet you'll see icebergs swimming in the lake in June. It's quite a flat walk, nothing strenuous, for a day to recover from more exhausting hikes. Not sure if the carriages run in early June, though. Depends on whether the hotel is open or not I think.
Apr 11th, 2010, 11:27 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you ingo!
I was hoping for some expert advice from someone who's been there.
Re #3 Motta Naluns, I probably just got the order of towns wrong. We will likely skip Prui and hike on to Ardez. This may leave a little time for a quick look at Guarda...
on #4 Morteratsch to Chuenetta viewing point, I hadn't heard of that possibility--will look further into it.
On #5 - I was a little lost on the order of towns and I did want to make more sense. Just know that we'll start with Soglio, then wanted to combine it with a hike to one of the surrounding villages. Although Vicosoprano sounded the best, it seemed a little convoluted to get to it.
Next question is re:
Chur Hotels. We are narrowed down to Drei Koenige or Franziskaner...Zunfthaus Rebleuten never responded with an offer despite three tries
. Any opinions from those who have stayed?
Next post, I will need to get specific with travel passes and ticket prices....
Thanks again...the excitement builds.
Rach
I was hoping for some expert advice from someone who's been there.
Re #3 Motta Naluns, I probably just got the order of towns wrong. We will likely skip Prui and hike on to Ardez. This may leave a little time for a quick look at Guarda...
on #4 Morteratsch to Chuenetta viewing point, I hadn't heard of that possibility--will look further into it.
On #5 - I was a little lost on the order of towns and I did want to make more sense. Just know that we'll start with Soglio, then wanted to combine it with a hike to one of the surrounding villages. Although Vicosoprano sounded the best, it seemed a little convoluted to get to it.
Next question is re:
Chur Hotels. We are narrowed down to Drei Koenige or Franziskaner...Zunfthaus Rebleuten never responded with an offer despite three tries
. Any opinions from those who have stayed?Next post, I will need to get specific with travel passes and ticket prices....
Thanks again...the excitement builds.
Rach
Apr 12th, 2010, 09:25 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Definitely have a quick look at Guarda! It's a must!
Vicosoprano is indeed a very nice small town, explored it two years ago in detail. But Promontogno, Bondo and Castasegna are similar. Soglio is in a league of its own. Don't miss the medieval church and a peek at the beautiful garden of Palazzo Salis in Bondo.
Sorry, no idea about the hotels in Chur. I've never been to Franziskaner. Drei Koenige is certainly not a bad choice, though.
Vicosoprano is indeed a very nice small town, explored it two years ago in detail. But Promontogno, Bondo and Castasegna are similar. Soglio is in a league of its own. Don't miss the medieval church and a peek at the beautiful garden of Palazzo Salis in Bondo.
Sorry, no idea about the hotels in Chur. I've never been to Franziskaner. Drei Koenige is certainly not a bad choice, though.
Apr 13th, 2010, 06:37 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hope you don't mind a little more "brain-picking"!
Do you think that the following agenda is achievable/enjoyable/recommended all in one day:
Pontresina- purchase ticket through Diavolezza Bernina, but #1-get off at Morteratsch and hike either/or/both to Glacier or viewing point Chuenetta
#2 get back on the train to Bernina Diav, then take gondola up for viewing, short gamble about for best photos, down
and
#3 back on the train to Poschiavo for look about then 'home' again to Pontresina.
Do you think that the following agenda is achievable/enjoyable/recommended all in one day:
Pontresina- purchase ticket through Diavolezza Bernina, but #1-get off at Morteratsch and hike either/or/both to Glacier or viewing point Chuenetta
#2 get back on the train to Bernina Diav, then take gondola up for viewing, short gamble about for best photos, down
and
#3 back on the train to Poschiavo for look about then 'home' again to Pontresina.
Apr 13th, 2010, 09:09 AM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, it is doable if you start early. Take the 9.04 train from Pontresina. Seriously, I would skip the Morteratsch stop. I'd rather stop at Alp Grüm. Maybe right around (early) lunch time and continue the trip with the train an hour later.
The views from Diavolezza top station are much more impressive than from anywhere near Morteratsch. And you'll have the Morteratsch view even better from the train at Montebello curve (a few minutes past the Morteratsch stop). But the view from Alp Grüm is totally different (with the turquoise lake below and a glacier above).
Do the Poschiavo trip on the day when there's a market in town. Wednesday, if I recall correctly.
The views from Diavolezza top station are much more impressive than from anywhere near Morteratsch. And you'll have the Morteratsch view even better from the train at Montebello curve (a few minutes past the Morteratsch stop). But the view from Alp Grüm is totally different (with the turquoise lake below and a glacier above).
Do the Poschiavo trip on the day when there's a market in town. Wednesday, if I recall correctly.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jahlie
Europe
9
Aug 7th, 2011 09:20 AM
