Eurotrip Day 13: "Climbing" Pilatus (9/27/13)

Got up early to get a head start on the day and bought a “Golden Ticket” for the Pilatus exploration from the front desk before walking to the boat dock in front of the Hbf to wait for my ferry across the lake; while I was waiting I got into the provisions I acquired the previous day making myself a meat and cheese sandwich and having a nectarine. Met up with K and S (a new guy who was from China but studying for a year in Germany) and hung out as we were all taking the same trip. Boat went to a stop or 2 before our final stop at Alpnachstad. 

I found my launch for the tour. It was decently well organized to minimize mess ups in navigation.

Looking back on the city from the boat. 

Swan swimming in front of a beautiful hotel. 

Here we go on our epic adventure into the great unknown.

Had a friend on the boat take a pic of me and the beautiful scenery. Included in the scenery - shirt from brewery back home.

First village we stopped at on the journey across the lake.

Castle with some houses up on the hill side. Still fighting the morning mist a bit.

I love sunrise/set times in the mountains. Shade changes the picture for the better.

Sky clearing out a bit. Love that reflection!

So many mountains, so little time. Great to look at though!

There we get on the cogwheel train that takes us to the top of Pilatus. Once we get to the top, as I step foot outside the visitor center, the strong winds instantly kick in the heights induced anxiety I am all too familiar yet still uncomfortable with. First stop is Esel peak, which offered some great views from the 360 degree turret opening up there; they had placards saying which mountains you were looking at in each direction. I then went back into the visitor center to chill and have lunch (more of the same as breakfast) before heading back out to check out the sights from oberhaupt and chriesiloch before heading over to the final point of the day for me, Tomlishorn.

Part 2 of the transportation trip to/from pilatus - old rail car going up the mountain. 

They built houses on this hill side. If you want to get away from the city, I would imagine this area is one way to do that.

Finally made it to the top. Cant wait to disembark and explore a bit.

The pilatus dragon front and center as you get off the rail. 

Climbed up one of the peaks and looked down on the base camp. Cant imagine bringing all that building material up that mountain to make all these places for people to eat, sleep, etc.

Plaque identifying the mountains in the distance. Nice info to have. I could spend days looking at this view.

Who is that handsome devil distracting me from the beautiful mountains???

The guy was just sitting there saying "Sax-O-mo-Phone" in a really deep voice. Not really but makes for a better story than him playing music with it. 

The rail car we came up in. That trail is the hiking trail for those who want to hike up the whole way. Aint nobody got time for that! (At least not on this trip)

Hike over to a different peak/lookout (there were a few different paths up there)

Clearly I either really like views or I am the only stupid person on this mountain 

I got company! Just a guy and his bird checking out some beautiful sights while taking some respite from way up.

I erected a sign with my initials on it. :) 

This was the hike up to the view I was at. If you read any of my previous posts, you know my heights anxiety during this part was off the chain. 

I saw S for a while here, however this peak was really messing with me so I enjoyed the views as long as I could and then slowly made my way back down to the visitor center to catch the funicular back down the mountain. On way down, stopped in Frakmuntegg to do the toboggan thing they have (essentially you get to ride a lil cart down a bobsled course). As I went down the first time, I wiped out going through a corner and when I got to the top the guy felt bad for me so he let me go again after some brief instruction (so I got a 2 for 1 that day, not bad). Some way down the track, there is a speed camera so you can see how fast you are going; both times my speed measured 41km/h. After the second run, I went over to the rope park that was nearby and it looked like it could be a lot of fun given the time to properly explore it. But since I had neither the time nor the will (was all “heightsed” out by then), I took the funicular the rest of the way down to Kriens to catch a bus back to the Hbf. I then went by the grocery store, got some dinner to make that night and a bottle of wine to enjoy as I pack to move on tomorrow.

After a bit of peak exploration/claiming, I take the cable cars down (the other way up/down the mountain). What is that serpentine thing on the mountain?

Toboggan run? Makes sense. Time to luge down the mountain.

Beautiful countryside to enjoy some lugging.

No steering. Just break. If you want to use it...

I went too fast and wiped out mid-run (sign said to break, but of course who listens to signs?).

Seriously beautiful countryside. 

Walking down to check out the rest of the stop's attractions. Got stopped by this view. 

Tree lounge? Yes please!

Another attraction at this stop was a tree obstacle course. They also has group training exercises and what not. I did not do this stuff as I was all heights-ed out by then. 

Cable car to take me the rest of the way down.

Back to town we go. Can see it in the distance (if you look really hard)

In a previous life, I was a postcard photographer. Found some flowers as I was walking around town trying to get back. 

Small beach on the lake in town near the hostel. 

The park across the street from the hostel has a lot of pretty gems to check out. This bridge being one of them. 

I packed and went down to have a glass of wine and hang out, and there I saw K so we hung out and chatted for a bit until i got hungry and it was time to make dinner. While I was cooking, J came back from his day of shopping (he collects starbucks mugs and had suitcases full of them) and joined us for a bit. Everyone but J was leaving in the morning so we all went up after food and drink were over and started getting ready for bed.

Money saving 101 - wine + pasta+pasta sauce = dinner of champions when going out is prohibitively expensive.