weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

As this mini-series is nearing its close, I am more and more drawn back to my original roots in Central Switzerland. From the place where I grew up in the small village of Ballwil/Lucerne, facing south we have a nice view to the alpine mountain chain with its eternal snow cap, with two significant mountains flanking that chain: Mount Pilatus in the west, which thrones pretty much right over the city of Lucerne, and the slightly lower in altitude but, particularly from our local viewpoint, very outstanding Mount Rigi in the east, which you have already seen on quite a few of my pictures in this series.

I am dedicating this post to a large part to Mount Rigi. First we will have two images of the river Reuss as it makes its dramatic exit from Lake Lucerne. Then we approach Mount Rigi on a gentle boat ride on the "Vierwaldstättersee"- literally translated as "Lake of the Four Forest Cantons", which is the proper local name for what we know in English as Lake Lucerne. On the way we first enjoy vistas from the boat as we cruise by the Meggenhorn castle, then we are enveloped by the gentle waves on this deep lake (214m/702ft at its deepest spot) and cruise past gently rolling meadows and small resort towns, such as Hertenstein and Weggis. Once the boat docks at the shore in Vitznau, a small scenic and quite touristic village at the foot of Mount Rigi, our journey continues up Mount Rigi's western flank aboard the Vitznau-Rigi cogwheel railway. No other mountain railway in the Alps has a longer history than this one: This railway opened in 1871 (152 years ago!), making it Europe's first mountain railway. The journey was, and still is, an experience in itself. We stay aboard the train to its second from last station at Rigi-Staffel, where we disembark and walk the remaining relatively short but quite steep stretch up to Rigi-Kulm, the highest point on this splendid mountain. From here we have a wonderful view to the rolling hills at the foot of the mountain, including two major and one minor lake: Lakes Lucerne and Zug of the first and Lake Lauerz of the second category.

I trust you will enjoy this combined lake and mountain experience.

A few notes to specific pictures below where I do not have sufficient space in the captions for a full description:

~ Image #1 - View from the Reussteg at the left bank of the river Reuss: At the very center of the picture and river is the 19th century Nadelwehr (needle dam), the historic river dam constructed to manually regulate the outflow of Lake Lucerne's water into the Reuss river. At left a cluster of historic houses in the old town center of Lucerne. At upper right the Reussbrücke (1877) and at rear on the extreme right the 13th century Wasserturm (water tower) attached to the historic Kapellbrücke (chapel bridge) which in this image is partially hidden.

~ Image #8 - On the steep walk from Rigi Staffel to Rigi Kulm: Panorama view west to north: At center to left the long Küssnacht arm of Lake Lucerne, with the town of Küssnacht at the center of the image. Towards the left end of the lake another arm turns right towards Lucerne, situated to the right and at the foot of Mount Pilatus. At right the view to Lake Zug, with the town of Zug at the upper right end and the village of Walchwil at the far right, above which lies the charming agricultural and recreational area of the Zugerberg. At the upper center, just before the Jura hills faintly visible: the two small shining bodies of water of Lake Sempach and Lake Baldegg.

~ Image #10 - From the top of Rigi Kulm: Panorama view north to east: At center the elongated waters of Lake Zug, bordered at its right shore by the gentle Zugerberg mountain with agricultural and recreational areas (presented in set #4 of this ongoing series). The towns of Walchwil in the center left of the image and Arth at the right end of the lake. To the left of the wooden cross at some distance the small Lake Lauerz and behind it slightly to the left the Kleine Mythen and the Grosse Mythen, the two home mountains of the town of Schwyz.


Notes
TRIP INFO: Set # 1 provides a brief introduction to this series. Please use the link below if you would like to review this intro:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-797460-1.html

2022 TRIP INFO: Set # 19 provides more information on the two trips of the year to Europe
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-798237-1.html

EARLIER POSTS of this series: Access my topic list at UHH, the new posts are listed in reverse chronological order:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-topic-list?usernum=45105

Thanks for visiting, I recommend viewing the downloads and look forward to your comments and questions.

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1 - Lucerne - Ancient 19th century "needle dam", regulating the lake's water outflow, with historic houses (see details above)

(Download)

2 - Lucerne - Closer view of the above quoted historic houses with reflections in the river

(Download)

3 - Lucerne - Mount Rigi - Queen of the mountains in its full splendor above the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne)

(Download)

4 - Lucerne/Meggen - On Lake Lucerne heading southeast, at left the promontory of the Meggenhorn jutting into the lake with part of the Meggenhorn Castle (1870) visible, faintly at rear the high alpine peaks

(Download)

5 - Lucerne/Meggen - Heading southeast on Lake Lucerne, at far left the last trees of the Meggenhorn, behind it parts of Mount Rigi, at right the sheer dark face of Mount Bürgenstock, and at the horizon the high alpine peaks

(Download)

6 - Lucerne/Meggen - Gentle wave patterns on Lake Lucerne as we head southeast, at right Mount Bürgenstock, at rear left/center Mount Niederbauen Kulm (1923m/6309ft) which we explored in some depth in set #5 of this series

(Download)

7 - Lucerne/Hertenstein - Meadows and lake shore at Hertenstein, at right the slope of the northwestern part of Mount Rigi

(Download)

8 - Schwyz/Rigi - On the steep walk from Rigi Staffel to Rigi Kulm: Panorama view west to north with Lake Lucerne at left and Lake Zug at right - for further details see the image description in the intro

(Download)

9 - Schwyz/Rigi - Another view of Lake Zug on the above walk

(Download)

10 - Schwyz/Rigi - From the top of Rigi Kulm: Panorama view with Lake Zug; at the center the gentle Zugerberg mountain; to the left of the wooden cross at some distance Lake Lauerz - for further details see the image description in the intro

(Download)

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

For your reference:

Map of Switzerland indicating at the very center the location of the places shown in this set

(Download)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Great set!

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Beautiful tour, Joe. The clouds were very cooperative throughout this whole series.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great, beautiful and colorful series, Joe.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Double.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you very much, Bill!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you very much Barbara. Yes, we were quite fortunate with the weather. We have this saying in Switzerland: "Wenn Engel reisen, lacht der Himmel" - when angels are traveling, the sky is smiling! - LOL - Sorry, couldn't help that, it fits this topic to a T - of course we say that with a strong dash of irony, not that I am considering myself to be anything close to an angel!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you very much Earnest, I always appreciate your kind and positive comments.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

A jewel of a lake and the historic houses make a wonderful set, Joe!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Mike for your appreciation of this combination.

lnl Loc: SWFL

So beautiful! I especially like the first two with the beautiful colors and the last 3 from the mountain top.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks Ellen, the first two are actually from quite a nice spot but not too many people go over there, even though there is a nice outdoor cafe right along the river beside that needle dam. And the view from Mount Rigi is just extraordinary!

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

A wonderful tour and images Joe.

Don

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Don, glad you still like the tour!