22-JUL-2018
Walking from Ferden to Kippel, our favourite 20 minute but scenic walk.
Setting out from the village of Ferden, through its sloping cobbled streets and past the tiny St Barbara chapel, we find the grassy walking path rising steeply to a point above our view. Up and around and then as the trail leads down, we see the majestic mountains towering above the deep river valley.
19-JUL-2018
Looking back along the track from Ferden to Kippel
It is such a beautiful walk and so much to take in. Wildflowers grow in profusion and I ike the view back to Ferden from the high point before going down towars Kippel.
Which path?
Signposts along the trails show various destinations
Walking paths or "wanderwegs" offer a variety of choices.
22-JUL-2018
A misty early morning walk to Kippel
There is no shop in Ferden but Kippel has just one, the bakery, which opens early and is closed before noon. On a cloudy, misty morning we set out to the bakery, the church bells of St Barbara Chapel chiming the hour. The fields are damp with dew and the mighty mountains shrouded in part by clouds. The atmosphere is delightful.
22-JUL-2018
Alpine Flowers
Our grassy path to Kippel is edged for part of the way with a freestone wall, many of the stones, large or small moss covered. Grasses and alpine flowers of all kinds grow around and beside the stones. Trees provide shade - I notice several rowan, birch, alder trees and many I have yet to identify. As the path becoes more grassy, the rock wall disappears and we look out at green mown pasture on one side with wild alpine flowers and grasses of all kinds going to seed.
19-JUL-2018
St Martin's Church in the early morning mist
It is still early as we approach Kippel on our walk from Ferden to the Bakery in Kippel. The church tower of St Martin's looms up evocatively as the mist begins to rise. Very few people are around except a few,like us, calling at the Bakery.
19-JUL-2018
Looking back at the village of Kippel
As we begin our walk back to our little chalet in Ferden, we reach a high point just as the path begins to turn down towards the bridge and the rushing stream. It is here that we admire the best view of Kippel and tell ourselves we will do this walk as often as we can.
19-JUL-2018
One of the two wooden bridges on the walk to Kippel {PG}
There are two bridges to cross, each over a continuous torrent of glacial water from the high mountains. The valley has countless streams flowing down the deeper mountain folds, silver ribbons in the sunlight or white in the morning and evening, but always there as the icy glaciers and snow patches slowly melt.
The water makes its way down to the wide swift River Lonza, along which the villages are situated.
22-JUL-2018
Fat Snails in the Misty Morning
We see so many large fat snails, unlike any we have ever seen in Australia, crawling slowly back to wherever they spend the dry days. I warn Philip not to tread on any, to watch his steps and to admire their lovely big shells.
Perhaps thse are the kind of snails eaten as a gourmet dish in France?
22-JUL-2018
End of flowering
Our walks have taken us past delightful wildflowers in many colours and varieties. Towards the end of our three week stay here most are fading and going to seed as Autumn sets in. They are still very lovely and these, which had been spreading white flowers, are now green and showing seedheads almost ready to burst open and sow themselves ready forthe next Spring. The while flower heads are similar to those we call Queen Anne's Lace, or more prosaically by some, Cow Parsley.
24-JUL-2018
The Lonza River below Ferden
Our village does not straddle the river but sits high above on one side. It is a very steep walk down a path and over a solid steel bridge just to see the river at this point, but we have done it several times. It is a great sight, swelling out across the valley floor with white sandy and gravel "beaches" but out of reach to the general walkers like us. However the views back towards Ferden also make the steep walk worthwhile.
24-JUL-2018
A very steep walk up from the river at Ferden
It's a hot and very steep climb back from the River Lonza at Ferden. There is a lake somewhere along there, towards Goppenstein but we cannot find it.
