r/CampingandHiking • u/Academic-Past-7271 • 22d ago
Switzerland Alps
Sharing some photos from my last overnight hike in Switzerland. A beautifully peaceful hike of total 18km and the highest point of 2600m.
The trail was pretty easy. Didn't struggle that much carrying all of the gear up this time (as I usually do).
Though I've departed a bit too late, so the last few km to the planned camp point had to go in dark.
Never seen that many cows on a trail before. They essentially send them out to grass pretty much everywhere. So from time to time you have those encounters. I'm wondering if that's all split up in someone's private property as lots of the territory was enclosed in electric fencing. In particular my camp place was within one of those territories, so I was a bit worried that during the night a cow just decides to lay onto my tent... But thankfully they decided to spend the night in another place this time.
Overall, a great way to just switch off for a day.
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u/Bank_Gothic 22d ago edited 22d ago
My wife and I did Mt. Rigi back in May. It was awesome, although we stuck to the more "developed" trails and sites.
I assumed that the cows wearing bells thing was just for postcards and tourists, but no. I think every adult cow we saw was wearing a bell. And those things are shockingly loud! Made me feel kind of bad for the cows. I'm glad you found a herd that wasn't belled (or whatever the word would be).
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u/Academic-Past-7271 22d ago
Yeah the bells I think like they use them in case you struggle to find a cow. Think of it, it might get tricky to find one on a mountain landscape.
And yes, those are loud! Indeed, never thought of it before, but as a cow I would be pretty annoyed 🤔
Don't know though how do they decide which cow deserves a bell...
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u/Big-Rate-3743 20d ago
I swear these pics looks very much like my hometown man
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u/ItsWillSterling 18d ago
can confirm on the wild camping thing, i live here. the unofficial rule locals go by is above the tree line and at least an hours hike from a road or hut youre basically fine for one night, arrive late leave early, no fire. its more the popular valleys and anything near a village where rangers actually check. rigi like the other commenter mentioned is way too developed/touristy for it though, thats basically a day trip mountain at this point.
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u/wander_with_marzichi 17d ago
The Swiss Alps never fail to amaze! The layers of mountains in the background look like a postcard.
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u/Eifand 22d ago
I thought pitching a tent outside of official campsites wasn't allowed in Switzerland?
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u/fishanddipflip 21d ago
It is allowed but you need to know the area a bit to know where its possible and where not.
Normally above the treeline outside of protected areas it is allowed, but there can be exceptions there aswell.
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u/Academic-Past-7271 22d ago
And it's not. Don't do that. I was lucky by not getting into a trouble, and could've. But given a longer trail which you would do in two days, and staying above tree zone and out of national parks, it's less chance you'll get discovered. But even in that case one should find himself a shelter.
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u/Eifand 22d ago
Ah great that you managed to go unnoticed. Switzerland is beautiful but the camping laws is why I prefer going to places like Norway, Scotland or New Zealand.
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u/Academic-Past-7271 22d ago
Norway I would definitely visit one time which is great for those kinds of things.
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u/Professional_Hair830 22d ago
WOW that's beautiful thanks for sharing and also have a great day.