Obersee Glarus, Switzerland
5th May, 2016. Destination: Ahornen Rundweg through Brunnmettlenalp – Starting point: Obersee – Elevation: est 450m – Distance: est. 11 km – Duration: est. 6 hours
This hiking route is the first one we did in 2016. The weather was sunny and beautiful. We started our journey from our home at around 08:00 and had breakfast at Marché Glarnerland, our usual breakfast place on our hiking day. After breakfast, we proceed with our journey to Obersee, Glarus. The way to Obersee was very beautiful. We had to drive through small villages and farms through narrow and winding roads with the view of the Alps visible in between trees. I remember that everybody in the car were impressed. If Swiss people are impressed with the landscape of their land, that counts a lot. As for me, I am never tired of the mountains and the lakes in Switzerland. Everyday is a different day.
We parked our car at Obersee carpark and too the Ahornen Rundweg but with a short cut through Brunnmettlenalp. As it was our first hike of the year after hibernating since late Autumn through to early Spring, I was not fit and completely unprepared. I didn’t bring my sunglasses, no energy bars and completely unprepared for the snow at higher altitude. It was hard. I felt weak and was seeing stars.
Advise to amateur hiker like myself, it’s really important to bring enough water to re-hydrate, enough food for energy, sunscreen and sunglasses for protection.
Ahornen-Rundweg - with short cut through Brunnmettlenalp
Obersee, Glarus.
We parked our car near to the Berghotel Obersee which stands just by the lake. A typical Swiss astonishing landcape – crystal clear lake with picturesque mountains in the background. Obersee is none the less. At 10:00, we started walking along Obersee towards the hiking trail. It was a motivating morning because we’ve been lazy for so many months. That week itself, we just moved into our new apartment so everything was very positive. The day was extremely pleasant with warm sun shining on our skins. My family-in-law told me that it would be an easy hike.
About an hour of walking at 11:00ish, we started to enter the woods. The start was really pleasant. The landscape was beautiful. There was plenty to see, the smell and to photograph.
Along the way, we took a few breaks for water and snacks like we always do. It helps to restore energy. We continued with our journey for another hour before we reached snow covered Vorderahornen. It’s a little mountain cabin village. Although the village was covered in snow, we saw villagers outside their houses drinking (something) and enjoying the sunny day.
Along Obersee - heading to the Wanderweg (hiking trail)
Beautiful flower beds in the woods
As soon as we entered Vorderahornen, that was my breaking point. The sun was stronger and I felt my body getting weaker because my sugar level dropped from the hike. I was feeling weak and basically dragging my feet through at least 20-30 cm of snow. My eyes were almost blinded by the contrast from the snow reflecting sun light because I forgot to bring my sunglasses. The mere thought of that makes my palms sweat right now.
Despite my broken spirit, I didn’t say a word and followed my group silently and very slowly. I remember feeling defeated. I wished I could sit in the snow and not move again but I didn’t want to trouble anybody and I knew that we’ll stop for lunch soon.
We walked for another 30 to 45 minutes going steeper and narrow trail before we finally found a small spot overlooking the mountains for lunch. Everything tasted very good but I was just glad we could finally sit down and re-energized. The view was excellent. The enormous mountains make you realized that you are only such a tiny part of the world. We rested for 1 to 1.5 hours before we headed back on the other way at about 13:00. You see our route on the map above marked with stars. Going uphill is over, now it’s going downhill. I don’t know what’s worse actually. What do you think?
Snow covered mountains
The way down was nice because of the completely different landscapes. We went through a field overlooking the stretch of mountains sitting afar. Sometimes the trail was muddy, sometimes the trail was dry. We also saw a small waterfall and wild animals. I love the variety of landscapes on a hiking trail.
There was an unforgettable part on the way down. There was a part when we exit the woods, we were going down a zigzagging trail into field of low leafy plants almost like a vegetable farm. From there the trail led us to the most mystical moss land I’ve ever seen in my life! It looked like a scene from a fairy tale. It was truly fascinating. This moss land remains on my top favourite place in Switzerland.
After stopping at the moss land for some pictures, we proceeded with our journey going though open fields, farms, villages and woods again before we reached our car at Obersee around 16:00. Everybody was exhausted so we stopped by a small restaurant on the way down with our car for Panaché (or called Shandy in other part of the world) before we headed home at 16:45.
P/S: More pictures below. Follow us on Instagram (@thehallos) for videos from this trip.
x Frau Hallo
Vorderahornen
Lunch view
Trail towards the moss land.
Mystical moss land
Sunlight creeping through the moss land
Postcard view of Switzerland
710 | Flügenspitz Süd, Amden - The Hallos
28th February 2018 @ 10:16 am
[…] can be challenging and dangerous. I can testify that after our experience hiking in the snow at Obersee last year.We unanimously agree to make a detour to Flügenspitz which is 10 minutes from where we […]
14th December 2019 @ 1:19 pm
WOW !!! Sitting here in Rochester NY USA and I wish I have the resources to fly and see that moss land for my self…. I could live there. Thanks for sharing… Wishing you Peace, Health, Love and Clarity. Dave
17th December 2019 @ 10:22 pm
Following the hike around the Obersee , Switzerland – as ‘Frau Hallo” wrote and seen the beautiful scenic pictures — it made me HOME-SICK !!!. —
remembered my teen-years, hiking in southern Germany ( im Schwabenland, am Bodensee) and seeing the Alps in Switzerland in the background.
May you all be blessed and be thankful to be able to hike and enjoy God’s wonderful creation. !!!
I am 82, living now in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.- Handicapped through a stroke, – living from these wonderful Memories !
Thank you for the beautiful photographs !!!
Erie