10 miles (without packs) ascent 722′ descent 1640′
This was our first rest day. We were a little cavalier with the idea of “rest” at this point. Later we would look back on this day and say, “What were we thinking….10 miles on a REST day??”
The hotel was still closed, so we had a lonely breakfast before we began our day’s adventure. It was quite wonderful to walk without our packs. We rode the funicular up to Braunwald, a little carless village high up on the mountain. Anything that needs to be toted is done with tiny trucks or horse drawn carts.
Of course, I had to pet one of the horses!
We walked to Nussbüel for a cake lunch. As we arrived we were greeted with shouts of “hello!” Our Virginian hikers were having their lunch here as well. The sun was shining and it was a glorious day to just sit and soak up the view of the surrounding mountains.
The path back down to Linthal was a gnarly, steep trail with lots of roots and ruts. Once at the bottom we followed a raging little river that eventually runs through Linthal.
We returned to the same restaurant, Hotel Raben, for dinner and had the best meal we had had on the trip yet!
It sure felt good to be hiking without the packs, restful hiking.