Day 6: Hike to Engstligen Falls Part II


After our short break and discovery of the chamois on the other mountain, we cut back across the field to a trail that we had spotted before. With this trail, we began our descent down the mountain that we had just hiked up!

Engstligen Falls (view from the mountain we were trying to descend)

We came across a small river flowing over a rocky part of the mountain. We crossed the river and I put my hand in the water....it is freezing! Much colder than Salisbury beach! I took a small rock from my first mountain river! 

Part of the small river that we crossed! Notice the snow above.

We walked up through a heavily wooded area and slid down a rock to a patch of snowy ice that extended vertically along the valley of the mountain we were on. We carefully crossed the snowy path to the other side! 

From there, the descent was easier and the small hiking trail turned into a dirt road. Once we got to the bottom of the road we realized that we had descended on a private road....whoops! And then the next road we took led us down to a bridge with a light blue river coursing underneath it (beginning of course at the Engstligen Falls which were closer in view this time) and also was a private road..... 


We continued on a hiking trail towards the falls alongside the river. I could hear the river rapids rushing loudly and cow bells in the distance. We walked through a grove of pine trees that seemed like out a fairy tale. The woods reminded me of Hanzel and Gretel story but no candy house in sight. 

After a little more uphill hiking, we finally reached the first tier of the water falls. The falls are in three parts and the water cascades down the rocks forcefully into a river that runs past the bottom of Our Chalet. The water fall is thin at the bottom tier (where we were) with rocks on either side. No picture can capture the beauty of the Engstligen falls...I advise you to come to Switzerland to see them for yourself.
 We ate lunch admiring the falls and afterwards took some pictures with the falls. 

After eating a well-deserved lunch, we took some pictures with the falls. Then, while my fellow hiking mates were looking at maps, I started to climb up next to the falls. I went about halfway up to the falls and got pretty close to the water. With the mist splashing my glasses, I put my hand in the water...it was freezing cold! I also took another rock. I see a collection forming already haha. 

The view of the waterfall from where I climbed up to

Reluctantly, I left the falls and started to head back to Our Chalet with Crystal, Libby and Jessica. We took the trail back that we were originally going to take. It was a nice scenic route that wound around the hills. We passed more cows, goats, farms and rolling hills. It was definitely not as strenuous as our hike up and down the mountain haha. 

After returning to Our Chalet, I relaxed for the rest of the night and practiced my cartwheel...it's actually getting better! Maybe this will be the summer that I will successfully do a cartwheel! 


Staff Challenge update: A guest had a birthday so I sang Happy Birthday in more than 3 different languages....73 points to go!!!


I am so glad that we made it to the falls and taking an adventurous route was very fun...I am training for future hikes! I can't wait to see more of the natural beauty of Switzerland.