That day I had arranged with my cousin to go to a lake near Estavayer-le-lac. I had to be there around 11:00 because his aunt was going to pick us up by car so we could go to the lake together.
Missing the train in Lucerne
I woke up and had breakfast at the hostel, which was very good! Excellent food, everything delicious, bread, eggs, bacon, cheese, fruit, jam, yogurt, the Swiss quality.
I ended up stretching out a bit at breakfast and forgot about the appointment I had. So I checked out and went straight to the station to catch the next train to Estavayer. However, I didn’t realize that from 9:00 a.m. onwards, the frequency of trains from Lucerne to Estavayer was reduced. Logically, because of the time people go to work, from 6:00 to 9:00 there are more trains available, after which the frequency reduces a little.
So, taking the next train would take me past 11:30, so I decided to stay in Lucerne and go to Mount Pilatus, which is just outside Lucerne, about 20 minutes by train. I took the next train to Alpnachstad PB (Pilatus-Bahnen).
Climbing Mount Pilatus: Important Tip
A very important tip: if you want to go to Mount Pilatus by cable car, then you need to buy the ticket for the ascent, which costs 19 Swiss francs. You also need to make a reservation to queue for the cable car, which costs 5 francs.
To buy tickets for Mount Pilatus, just follow this link.
To book the queue for the cable car, just follow this link.
So I bought the ticket to climb Mount Pilatus, but I saw some people walking up the mountain, so I wanted to do the same.
I sought information from people nearby and found the way up the hill on foot. This path is approximately 300 meters ahead, following the road to the ticket office. All you have to do is look at the signs to the right, where the climb to the hill begins.
To the Top of the Pilatus
There I went, up Mount Pilatus. I loved doing this kind of thing, hiking, climbing, adventuring in nature, it’s what keeps me going, it’s what I like. It was a sunny day, clear skies, everything was perfect. As I climbed the hill, the view became more and more amazing.
Poor me, I didn’t know that Mount Pilatus wasn’t that easy, and in this attempt to walk up Pilatus to the top I discovered that it wasn’t that easy. The climb is magnificent, incredible. The view is perfect, I felt like I was climbing to the top of the world. And so it was about a 2:30 walk. There is water on the trail to fill your bottle, water running from the top of the mountain, there is also a small spout, at first it seems to be for animals, cows, but you can also fill your bottle with running water.
What is Interesting about Mount Pilatus
Mount Pilatus, located in the Swiss Alps near Lucerne, with 2128 meters high, has a rich history and is associated with various legends and stories. The name “Pilatus” is believed to have originated from the Latin word “pileatus,” meaning “cloud-covered.” The mountain is often shrouded in clouds, adding to its mystique. According to local legend, Mount Pilatus was named after Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is said that after his death, Pilate’s body was thrown into a lake at the summit as a way of getting rid of an accursed person. The restless spirit of Pilate is said to still haunt the mountain.
Historically, Mount Pilatus was not easily accessible. However, in 1889, the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, was opened, providing a way for visitors to reach the summit. The railway’s construction itself is a testament to engineering prowess.
I decided to stop halfway
I was approaching the middle of the mountain, my legs were tired and I’d made the mistake of not taking any food, just a few snacks would have helped, but there was nothing to give me the energy to continue climbing Mount Pilatus.
A very important tip is to bring a snack, food with carbohydrates to give you energy, chocolate, bread, bananas, something to help you keep climbing. So I arrived in the middle of the hill, legs tired and without energy. At this point there is a cable car stop, where you can take the cable car up or down. I really wanted to continue climbing, but I lacked energy, so I decided to go down, as I was feeling the consequences of weakness, a lot of drowsiness and low blood pressure. I just waited for the ‘cable car’ to come back down.
20 minutes later we arrived at our starting point. I feel like it wasn’t giving up, but a test for next time. And the next time I go back to Switzerland, I’ll know exactly what to do to get to the top of Mount Pilatus on foot.
I stopped to eat in a little shop nearby, bought a sandwich, an ice cream and a cold cappuccino, spending around 15 euros. Switzerland being Switzerland, but it’s worth it.
I took the next train from Alpnachstad PB to Lucerne. Arriving in Lucerne, another train to Bern, then another train to Fribourg and finally another train to Estavayer-le-lac. It was a lot of trains, but traveling by train in Switzerland is a unique experience. It’s not my first time in this country and I’m already familiar with how the public transport system works there. But every time I take the train
Arriving in Estavayer, there was an antique car fair that usually takes place there, the last time I went. I saw some very cool and different cars, I took some photos and I’ll show them here.
Insert photo of the car show in Estavayer
After enjoying some supercars at the fair in Estavayer, I headed home. It was another 20-minute walk to my grandmother’s house. I got there, gave her a kiss and went to bed.
