Hiking in the Swiss Alps- from Mt. Moleson to Les Mosses

I have to admit that Switzerland has some of the most incredible scenery in the world.  The backdrop always seems surreal.  Although considered a "little" mountain, Mt. Moleson in Gruyere is one of those "best kept secrets" (ok that's totally my own opinion) of Switzerland.  I had previously blogged about going up to Mt. Moleson for the Lever Du Soleil in early fall.  That time it had been raining for days so the nice fluffy cumulous clouds really helped to give some depth to the rising sun but also blocked the "real" view.  I had some friends visiting from out of town in the summer time and we decided to head up Mt. Moleson to see what we could get on a crystal clear day.  I think the picture below says it all. 

My friend taking in the fresh air (finally! doesn't smell like cow poo)

We saw that some people were actually hiking all the way back down, not using the funicular and thought they were crazy.  As we were not that courageous (or crazy) we instead took a leisurely drive through the Alpes to Les Mosses in Ozzelfart (that's a mix of opel and ausfart, exit in German). Les Mosses is a tiny mountain village just up the hill from Chateau D'Oex (famous for their hot air balloon festival). Les Mosses is very rustic in comparison to the overwhelming bling bling culture of Gstaad (and home to Johnny Halladay who is from what I understand a big deal around these parts).  For those of you who can't afford a private guide to take you up to the slopes and prefer a bit of rustic-ness, Les Mosses is the place to go. 

Behind the camping centre of Les Mosses, a small road leads you about .25 of the way up a hill. There you will find a dairy farmer and his really cute cows.  As you keep on climbing up (and warning it really is quite steep), at the very end of the 30 minute hike, is a great little surprise.  A small restaurant nestled around a lake awaits hikers needing a break (like us). The lake is a good little stroll around as well with small trails breaking off of it.  I have gone back here a few times and meandered off to find Lamas?? during the spring time.  

Les Mosses is a great weekend getaway and a great chance to really discover the Swiss countryside. 

If you are looking for what the locals do versus what the glitzy tourists do, these are two places you definitely need to hit up!

Jaune, Rouge, Orange et Vert

One thing that San Diego doesn't have that this wonderful little Swiss village does is- SEASONS! Since I do not have a car (thank god to that!), taking public transport through the lush, green fields now spotted with yellows, reds, and oranges (yes along with the black and white of bessies) is always a soothing site.


My runs in the forest have become that much more enjoyable as the flutter of leaves surround me as the find their new home on the forest floor. There's something graceful and magical about the way a leaf twirls, pirouetting it's way, floating softly to the awaiting bed of leaves below.
The crisp crunch of leaves below my shoes, the occasional mud pile that you sink into. It's Autumn- it's here.. and it's wonderful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Lever Du Soleil

Cutting my trip to London short one day, I came back to watch the sunrise over Moléson Summit for the last time this year. We drove up to Moléson village and took the Funicular halfway up, then the cable car the rest of the way up. It had been pouring the previous days before- but I was excited knowing that the cumulous clouds would help give depth to this spectacular event.

Much like in Canton de Vaud - in Cully (studying in style post), there is a triangular view point indicator on the Sommet de Moléson. It's a bit of a hike from the cable car and main lodge but worth the view!
I somehow convinced my roomate to wake up at an ungodly hour after having to pick me up from Lausanne the night before (seriously, I got in at 8:30- the next available train to Fribourg was at midnight, then I would have to take the bus and get back at 2am) and wake up at 5 am to accompany me to see the sunrise in the freezing cold mountain top. I also need to thank her for being so tall and thus making such a slender, beautiful model for my photographs of the sunrise.

From my understanding, they only do this a few times a year starting in Spring/ Summer and extending through Autumn. You can check with the Moléson website to see what's going in the town and the summit. They post dates, hours and prices for the lever du soleil- so check back in the spring when the mountain isn't so cold and more feasible to watch the sunrise.