3-Tages-Wanderung im Emmental

Switzerland, August 31 - September 2, 2013

I should have known. But I follow her anyway. From the train station in Bulle, we march in a good mood towards the lake. Always nicely after Seraina. Of course, we don't find a lake. Not after the first hill, not even after the next little forest. Instead, we discover Gruyères in the distance and make it our temporary destination.

A pretty old town paved with cobblestones and tourists welcomes us. Small castles with gardens, the Buddha next to the Giger Museum.

Later in the Entlebuch we get off the bus somewhere on the road between Escholzmatt and Marbach and hike past farms across cow pastures and find a cozy place to sleep.

Auf Abwegen bei den Schafen — Going astray with sheep

Die Königin des Waldes — The Queen of the Forest

The next morning at seven we continue trudging along farm paths, up and down, until we are back at our departure point at eight.

All right, let's take the hiking trails instead. From the village of Escholzmatt we hike up to the Napf. Hour after hour, followed by suspicious looks of cows. Just in time we arrive at the top, where we find shelter from a cold wall of clouds in the restaurant, with hot chocolate and coffee Chrüter.

When the sun manages to reassert itself, we start the steep descent. Old farmhouses alternate with green pastures. Shortly before Willisau, we hit the bushes again.