Welcome to Transeurotrek.com - 1st Trek: Switzerland
Germany Munsterland to Brandenburg
France Aveyron to Haute Provence
FROM NORTH SEA TO MEDITERRANEAN
Switzerland and across the Alps
NINTH SECTION Friday 9 to Wednesday 21 September 2005 Konstanz (Germany) to Bellinzona (Ticino) along E1 – 386 Km (1804Km).
From Konstanz made across undulating farmland on a long, hot and exhausting day to Bronschofen, where we celebrated my birthday. On through similar terrain to Wattwil and then up to the first mountain pastures at 930m and down the other side to Lake Zurich and along its banks to lovely old town Rapperswil. Crossed the lake on a boardwalk then the road bridge to climb high above the lake on a mountainous route to Einsiedeln with its huge monastery dominating the town and Schwyz and Fluelen. Days of fairly flat terrain with slight height gain mixed with climbing to 900m passes and down again. From Fluelen harbour followed the fast flowing River Reuss hemmed in by high dykes to Amsteg where the climb to the Alps began. Stayed in the lovely Restaurant Feld in Gurtnellen. Slow climb to Hospental following the river steeply upwards, shadowing the motorway and railway. Stopped to admire the railway twist three ways on the same slope to gain height - saw the same freight train three times going in opposite directions each time. Mixed woods and meadows and walked along the top of the motorway galleries and up a spiral staircase to a pedestrian tunnel. Farmers collecting cut grass. Reached Andermatt at 1400m and then across the fields to Hospental. 17 September climbed steeply through damp, cold mist and moorland marshes into the Ticino region and the St Gotthard Pass - quiet and remote, apart from the mountain top cafe! Celebrated crossing the Alps with coffee, cake and grappa. No visibility until the descent on the southern side along steep rocky paths above Airolo from where we contoured through meadows with the sun peeping through and views way down into the pass to the long queues for the road tunnel northwards through the mountain. Trekked along the lovely Strada Alta for three days through Ticino where the language and cuisine changed from Germanic to Italian - bad for breakfasts and good for dinners! Lovely ridge walking between stiff ascents and descents through mixed forests. The farms were less active than on the northern side and many houses were abandoned or restored for second or holiday homes. Misty day from Anzonico (979m) for the steep, long descent across escarpments, rivers, forests and meadows to Biasca (200m), a quarry and cement town. Beautiful track from here along the bank of the mighty River Ticino through small villages to Bellinzona.
TENTH SECTION Thursday 9 to Saturday 12 March 2006 Bellinzona (Ticino) to Morcote (Ticino) along E1 – 202Km (2006Km).
Through the lovely old town of Bellinzona and an easy contour walk along the valley edge in warm sun to Camorino. From here we climbed out of the valley into woods and to 1000m. Encountered frozen snow on the ascent which made the narrow tracks treacherous and it took a long time to negotiate the ridge. There we found thigh-deep snow and icy conditions. We took turns in leading as breaking the snow was hard work. Frozen waterfalls, sparring hares - very tiring though spectacular as the weather was Very cold but clear. Clear views to Lugano and its Lake for two days. Trekked through the town southwards and through forests on clear tracks to Cirona. Wind now very biting but the views over the lake, town and mountains all around were fantastic. The descent to Morcote on Lake Lugano was south-facing so warm and snow free. The small ferry port was less interesting than expected and after a wait for the ferry we pressed on to Italy across rough water.
DISTANCE IN SWITZERLAND – 319Km = 199 miles
DISTANCE FROM NORTH SEA – 1859Km = 1162 miles
