Will Walk for Food: Winter Wandering in Switzerland
Feb 24th, 2019 | 12:34 PM
#81
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,280
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Sounds like an amazing time, melnq8!
Probably a really dumb question, but as I assume that the red/white markers along trails are likely covered in snow, how do you know you're on the path? Do you just ask your host whether the weather is likely to close in before you plan to return 'home' or do you reference a particular website? I'm completely unfamiliar with snowy environments.
Probably a really dumb question, but as I assume that the red/white markers along trails are likely covered in snow, how do you know you're on the path? Do you just ask your host whether the weather is likely to close in before you plan to return 'home' or do you reference a particular website? I'm completely unfamiliar with snowy environments.
Feb 24th, 2019 | 02:10 PM
#82
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,156
Likes: 83
Hi dreamon -
Trails are well marked in Switzerland - the link below explains it better than I can. As most trail signs are high up on sign posts, they seldom get completely covered in snow (sometimes wind blown snow can cover them a bit, it's usually not a big deal though).
Winter wanderwegs are indicated with pink signs, but as we travel so early in the season many of them aren't yet prepared, hence a few of our slogs.
Information offices have detailed hiking maps - in winter, many trails are groomed, similar to how ski pistes are groomed for skiers. Ski areas in Switzerland also have lighted boards that indicate which ski pistes and winter walking trails are open, as well as which restaurants, etc. Like this:
Our walks are generally under eight miles, and we're not hard core, so we don't do a whole lot of advance weather research. We usually pop into an Information Office upon arrival to pick up a map and ask for some recommendations, or find walks online, but that's about it.
https://www.alpenwild.com/staticpage...he-swiss-alps/
Trails are well marked in Switzerland - the link below explains it better than I can. As most trail signs are high up on sign posts, they seldom get completely covered in snow (sometimes wind blown snow can cover them a bit, it's usually not a big deal though).
Winter wanderwegs are indicated with pink signs, but as we travel so early in the season many of them aren't yet prepared, hence a few of our slogs.
Information offices have detailed hiking maps - in winter, many trails are groomed, similar to how ski pistes are groomed for skiers. Ski areas in Switzerland also have lighted boards that indicate which ski pistes and winter walking trails are open, as well as which restaurants, etc. Like this:
Our walks are generally under eight miles, and we're not hard core, so we don't do a whole lot of advance weather research. We usually pop into an Information Office upon arrival to pick up a map and ask for some recommendations, or find walks online, but that's about it.
https://www.alpenwild.com/staticpage...he-swiss-alps/
Last edited by Melnq8; Feb 24th, 2019 at 02:15 PM.
Feb 25th, 2019 | 09:57 AM
#84
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,002
Likes: 0
Mel, that sounds like a wonderful day! Believe it or not, for a couple of years I stayed twice per year in the Laudinella - once in winter, once in summer season. It is a pretty unique hotel, belongs to a co-op and has its focus on culture. Thus reasonable prices, standard comfort but nothing over top, always good food. I attended several concerts and other cultural events there. They often had workshops and residences of musicians, writers etc. while I stayed there. Good memories! The Reine Victoria is managed by them only since one or two years ago, it was a Club Med before. Yep, a stunning building!
Btw, isn't it fun participating in the events and using the offerings in St. Moritz? While I agree that the town is overbuilt with rather ugly structures, it is nonetheless nice to enjoy the fantastic food (Hanselmann!), do some (window) shopping and people watching there. One doesn't need to stay there, but a visit is a sort of *must*.
Btw, isn't it fun participating in the events and using the offerings in St. Moritz? While I agree that the town is overbuilt with rather ugly structures, it is nonetheless nice to enjoy the fantastic food (Hanselmann!), do some (window) shopping and people watching there. One doesn't need to stay there, but a visit is a sort of *must*.
Feb 25th, 2019 | 01:31 PM
#90
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,156
Likes: 83
Zuoz to Seefeld – Day 13
The day was beautiful (but of course, we were leaving!).
Knowing we had to get an early start, we’d purchased our train tickets a few days earlier in St Moritz (46 CHF each, half fare within Switzerland).
I’d called reception the night before to ask where we were to deposit our recycling, and was told that it, and the rubbish should be taken up to the bins by the train station. We're accustomed to the recycling practices in Switzerland, but were surprised that we were also responsible for disposing of the trash, cleaning fee notwithstanding.
So, after tidying up the apartment, we dragged our luggage, our rubbish, our recycling and ourselves through the snow and ice up to the Zuoz train station one last time.
Our train was a few minutes late, making us worry about our tight connection in Scuol, but as so often happens in Switzerland, all was fine. We quickly detrained and walked the short distance to our waiting bus (921) and were off.
Some 30 minutes later we were changing to an Austrian bus in Martina, a stop on the way to the former ‘smuggler’s paradise’ of Samnaun, which is situated in the Austrian, Swiss and Italian triangle. This time though, we were headed to Landeck, Austria.
Pretty drive this; the road precariously dangling from sheer cliffs, snow-free and surprisingly green. We wound through the narrow streets of Pfunds and alongside the opaque glacial blue of the Inn River. An hour later our near empty bus was pulling into Landeck, where we connected to the RailJet, our busiest train so far.
Another hour, and we were in Innsbruck. We climbed aboard one last train for the final ~35 minute journey to Seefeld.
-------
I’ll post the Austrian portion of this trip on a new thread. When that might be is anyone’s guess, but I’ll post the link here when it’s ready.
Thanks for tuning in.
The day was beautiful (but of course, we were leaving!).
Knowing we had to get an early start, we’d purchased our train tickets a few days earlier in St Moritz (46 CHF each, half fare within Switzerland).
I’d called reception the night before to ask where we were to deposit our recycling, and was told that it, and the rubbish should be taken up to the bins by the train station. We're accustomed to the recycling practices in Switzerland, but were surprised that we were also responsible for disposing of the trash, cleaning fee notwithstanding.
So, after tidying up the apartment, we dragged our luggage, our rubbish, our recycling and ourselves through the snow and ice up to the Zuoz train station one last time.
Our train was a few minutes late, making us worry about our tight connection in Scuol, but as so often happens in Switzerland, all was fine. We quickly detrained and walked the short distance to our waiting bus (921) and were off.
Some 30 minutes later we were changing to an Austrian bus in Martina, a stop on the way to the former ‘smuggler’s paradise’ of Samnaun, which is situated in the Austrian, Swiss and Italian triangle. This time though, we were headed to Landeck, Austria.
Pretty drive this; the road precariously dangling from sheer cliffs, snow-free and surprisingly green. We wound through the narrow streets of Pfunds and alongside the opaque glacial blue of the Inn River. An hour later our near empty bus was pulling into Landeck, where we connected to the RailJet, our busiest train so far.
Another hour, and we were in Innsbruck. We climbed aboard one last train for the final ~35 minute journey to Seefeld.
-------
I’ll post the Austrian portion of this trip on a new thread. When that might be is anyone’s guess, but I’ll post the link here when it’s ready.
Thanks for tuning in.
Feb 26th, 2019 | 09:32 AM
#93
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,156
Likes: 83
Forgot to mention that we were a little worried that we wouldn't break even on our Half Fare Cards this time, but we did, plus some.
Half Fare Cards were 120 CHF each, our train/bus fare came to 176.90 CHF each at half fare.
Half Fare Cards were 120 CHF each, our train/bus fare came to 176.90 CHF each at half fare.
Mar 17th, 2019 | 08:24 AM
#99
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 26
I'm waiting, too, but totally understand losing the motivation. I try to write small summaries of our interesting day outings and weekend hikes (mostly so I'll always have notes about our ex-pat life for when I'm too old to remember my name, much less which anything else), and sometimes even that takes weeks... 
Mar 17th, 2019 | 12:42 PM
#100
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,156
Likes: 83
I hear you fourfortravel - I wish I'd kept better notes from our expat life. My Mom kept every letter and e-mail I sent her when we lived in Saudi Arabia and then gave them back to me. They're pretty hilarious. I only wish I'd done the same for our time in Kuwait, Indonesia and Perth.
I've been spending entirely too much time researching our return trip to Switzerland in October, but I will try to buckle down soon.
I've been spending entirely too much time researching our return trip to Switzerland in October, but I will try to buckle down soon.
