Climbing Pilatus

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Just before we reached the top of the mountain we were surprised by this ladder-like climb.
Just before we reached the top of the mountain we were surprised by this ladder-like climb.

Our big outing for the day today was climbing up Mt. Pilatus. Starting just before noon, we took a boat trip down the length of Lake Lucerne to a little town called Alpnachstad, and there we caught the Pilatus Bahn: a train that carried us up to the top of the mountain. While there we explored around the top, listened to an Alpenhorn, and climbed to one of the peaks.

Then we took a gondola ride down the north side of the mountain to Frakmuntegg, where they have a luge run. Four of us decided we wanted to try it and it was great! After that we got onto another gondola and continued down the north side of the mountain back to a town called Kriens. There we caught a bus back to Lucerne.

That took all day! Karen did much better today – thank you for all of your prayers! She was able to go everywhere with us.

Here are pictures. Click on any picture for a full-screen presentation that looks better on both computers and phones:

Mt. PIlatus dominates the skyline over Lake Lucerne. Yes, that was our destination!
Mt. PIlatus dominates the skyline over Lake Lucerne. Yes, that was our destination!

This is the company that runs the railway that we took to the top of Mt. Pilatus.
This is the company that runs the railway that we took to the top of Mt. Pilatus.

Karen poses in a fake train. The Pilatus Bahn boasts that they climb the steepest railway in the world - a 48% slope. And as you can see they've been doing it for a long time.
Karen poses in a fake train. The Pilatus Bahn boasts that they climb the steepest railway in the world – a 48% slope. And as you can see they’ve been doing it for a long time.

Here we are walking up to our train to get on board. We decided this was more like a funicular than a train - but much longer than most funiculars.
Here we are walking up to our train to get on board. We decided this was more like a funicular than a train – but much longer than most funiculars.

We climbed the steep hill pretty quickly and were treated to amazing views along the way.
We climbed the steep hill pretty quickly and were treated to amazing views along the way.

Here's one way to climb up the mountain.
Here’s one way to climb up the mountain.

Looking behind us as we near the top of the mountain we can see the amazing railway track that we rode up on.
Looking behind us as we near the top of the mountain we can see the amazing railway track that we rode up on.

 

The rock formations on Pilatus are so beautiful.
The rock formations on Pilatus are so beautiful.

Looking south from Pilatus toward the main section of the Swiss Alps.
Looking south from Pilatus toward the main section of the Swiss Alps.

There is a pathway through the mountain with at least a dozen of these portholes so you can look out over the clouds. Notice the love-locks on the cable barrier.
There is a pathway through the mountain with at least a dozen of these portholes so you can look out over the clouds. Notice the love-locks on the cable barrier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve is a patient man and waits for us slowpokes to catch up. We thought that this was a flat walk but we've just spotted this stairway and realized that we were in for a bit of a climb.
Steve is a patient man and waits for us slowpokes to catch up. We thought that this was a flat walk but we’ve just spotted this stairway and realized that we were in for a bit of a climb.

Joyce is happy here because she hasn't entered that tunnel yet and doesn't know what's ahead.
Joyce is happy here because she hasn’t entered that tunnel yet and doesn’t know what’s ahead.

This extremely steep stairway was within a rock tunnel and we didn't see it coming.
This extremely steep stairway was within a rock tunnel and we didn’t see it coming.

Just before we reached the top of the mountain we were surprised by this ladder-like climb.
Just before we reached the top of the mountain we were surprised by this ladder-like climb.

From the top of Pilatus you can look south to see more and more mountains (the Alps!).
From the top of Pilatus you can look south to see more and more mountains (the Alps!).

From the gondola we looked down on the luge run that winds its way through the valley.
From the gondola we looked down on the luge run that winds its way through the valley.

We had seen this church from the top, standing virtually alone in the mountains, and we passed by it on the way down in the gondola.
We had seen this church from the top, standing virtually alone in the mountains, and we passed by it on the way down in the gondola.

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On the town in Lucerne, Day Two

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High in the Swiss Alps: Lauterbrunnen


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1 Comment

  1. Aunt Judy
    September 14, 2015 at 11:39 am

    Great photos. Glad weather is so good. Glad all are doing well.

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At dinner tonight we recapped the great day we had together. Best of all, Karen got through the day with much less pain and was able to be with us for everything.
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The Chapel Bridge over the Reuss River in old-town Lucerne.
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IMG_1081
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