Snow Shoe || Les Pres d'Orvin Loop || Switzerland
When I told Jay that I finally needed to get out into the mountains after my surgery, he knew exactly the right place to take me. The Jura mountains!
Although not as ‘sexy’ as the Alps the Jura’s have something the Alps do not,
a fantastic view of the Alps!
There was standing room only in the bus until a second bus arrived to take the overflow.
The day started early taking the train at 6:50. Three trains and one bus ride later we arrived at our destination, Les Pres d’Orvin. If you can’t tell by the name, we are now in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
Off the bus, we walked past all the downhill skiers and snowboards and cross country skiers to a beautiful place to put on our snowshoes.
Already our hands were a bit cold which makes putting on the shoes difficult. It takes about 20 minutes of hiking for the fingers to thaw!
This hike was the perfect hike to get started for the year.
There was some elevation gain but nothing intense. The trail weaves through the cross-country skiers so you do need to pay attention at the crossings.
There are a couple of places to eat out on the trail #onlyinswitzerland.
We ate at Metairie de Gleresse if you go with a group you should reserve a table in advance. We each had rosti and enjoyed the ambiance of a Swiss hut.
After lunch I rock-starred up the mountain and left Jay in the dust - snow dust that is.
The beautiful sun from the morning got stuck behind some gray-er clouds. The clouds only partially blocked the view of the valley and beyond that, the Alps! The Alps were so amazing that Jay thought they were clouds.
You can see the Alps in the distance. It never gets old.
The only part of the trip that was not well planned was the bus; it didn’t run between 13:19 and 16:19 so we had to avail ourselves to the little restaurant and wait for over an hour. When the buses did arrive, they were late, so we also missed our train back in Biel.
This hike was the perfect hike to start the snowshoe season - I felt like I worked, but I was not exhausted. Next week we will be snowshoeing in the Alps from Oberalp Pass to Andermatt!
Take a leisurely stroll through Bruderholz, Basel, where a short, easy walk offers a delightful escape from the city. Explore the Bruderholz Water Tower, uncover hidden 'cut-your-own-flower' fields, and meander through peaceful farmland. Discover a perfect Sunday afternoon getaway just a tram ride away from Basel!