Wednesday, April 25, 2018

4/25–Bonaduz to Rhazuns to Feldis

It’s another picture perfect day as we set out from the Hotel Alte Post to the Bonaduz train station. Gaby and Sigis meet us outside, and with precision timing, walk us to the train station to get the train to Rhazuns, where we will transfer to the cable car for Feldis, to begin our hike to their cabin.  It all works perfectly (of course, it’s Swiss run – both the government and the Rageths!) and we arrive at the cable car with plenty of time to spare.

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Our ride up to Feldis takes around 10 minutes, and is absolutely beautiful, if you can get over the fear of the gondola which takes you up 4800 feet with minimal supports.  At one point, as we rise above the Rhine river, past the Schloss Rhazuns, you can look back and see the long length of cable behind us, with absolutely no towers supporting it.  Yikes!

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We finally reach the top – much to our relief – and step out into the beautiful coolness of sleepy little Feldis.  Population maybe 200, this little town is so perfectly Swiss, with it’s lovely town square, half timbered and full on log cabins (including the cool wood carvings).

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Sleepy in the summer, the proximity to ski slopes keeps it hopping in the winter, but we’re happy to be one of the few people here on this gorgeous spring day.  Before we embark upon our hike, we stop for sustenance in the form of cappuccino at the Hotel/Restaurant Mira-Todi, and bask outside in the cool air and abundant sunshine.  It’s just too pretty up here in the Mountains.

Finally we tear ourselves away from the town, and begin our hike, thought scenic pastures, dotted with cows, past little (and big) log cabins, a church and multitudes of beautiful Swiss Alpine horizon landscapes.

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As we climb higher, we encounter the last remnants of snow, still clinging to the trail, belying the increasingly warm spring temperatures.  We pass rushing streams, that Gaby explains aren’t usually even trickling but are heavy now because of the abundant snowfall (and rain) this season.  It’s just magical up here, the views and the company are simply stunning – we couldn’t have asked for a better last day here together with Gaby and Sigis.

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After about 45 minutes, we reach a cross roads where Sigis left the car earlier this morning (then biked back down to town).  We’re going to drive the rest of the way to the cabin, parking just a little ways away, before the new bridge being constructed that isn’t quite ready to support heavy vehicles quite yet.  Good call!  The drive doesn’t take very long, and it is still incredibly scenic, but the best part is the approach on foot to the cabin, over the bridge with the rushing water, up the slight incline past their nearest neighbor, until we are looking out over the snowcapped mountain peaks rimming the town of Domat/Ems.

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