Mount Pilatus

This morning it was off to explore another dragon's lair, Mount Pilatus. Our journey started with a short ride to the Luzern train station via bus number 24 from in front of our hotel. Adjacent to the train station is the dock where we boarded our cruise ship for the approximately one hour ride to Alpnachstad.

Boat to Alpnachstad

There we had just a very short time to catch our scheduled ascent aboard the world's steepest cog wheel railroad. The folks at the ticket exchange booth were very helpful in quickly exchanging our boat vouchers for the cog wheel train tickets and ensuring we made it onto the proper train. It really paid to have made an advance reservation as it was a beautiful day and the line to go up the mountain was filled with those who had not.

On the half hour journey up we passed cows peacefully munching away on the steep slopes and the occasional hearty soul making his or her way up on foot. Apparently someone in good shape can do it in about four hours! Not my choice of recreation. The scenery from the train was just spectacular!
Reaching the top I immediately confirmed our reservation for the descent three and a half hours later. After a quick orientation the group split up and everyone went off in various directions.

Everywhere you looked there was some amazing scene; shear rock cliffs, tree lined slopes, lakes and clouds below, tiny ant-like people making their way up the mountain, people far below on a toboggan run, others soaring about as the mountain's up draft carried their hang gliders entry upward. Numerous hiking paths and tunnels into the mountain provided access to a variety of observation points.

Later we just enjoyed basking in the sun under the clearest of blue skies and having lunch and a beer! Off in the distance one could hear the muted melody of the flugel horns.

 Eventually it was time to start back down the mountain. Standing in line for our train, the window looking out over the cliff and distant valley filled with the brilliant orange color of a hang glider as an instructor filled the delicate looking fabric with air and jumped off the cliff with his student. They sank out of sight momentarily and then rose slowly at first and then more rapidly as the airfoil increased in efficiency and the updraft took the kite like object higher into the sky. I want to do that!



After reaching the bottom we took the regular train back to Luzern arriving around 4:15 PM. The rest of the day was on our own. The ladies were disappointed to find that the stores closed early due to it being Saturday, but the guys found an English pub and were happy as larks. We decided to eat at the pub as it was most convenient and then caught the bus back to the hotel.