Quintons in Quinten
A Spring hike along the Walensee
We approached last weekend much like we have done many times: run errands and shop on Saturday, followed by a long hike on Sunday. It’s much easier to get outside now that the weather has turned from the endless gray, damp, cold of winter to the breezy sunshine of spring.
We plan our hiking trips using a combination of “AllTrails” and “Komoot.” Our planning sessions look like a hack-a-thon, using multiple screens and devices, while we toss ideas back and forth across the room. We landed on an adventure to the southeast, Walensee, a lake about 90 minutes from here, located in the canton of St. Gallen. Previously, we had traveled past this lake on our return from other locations and were eager to see it up close. The hiking trail for our adventure was on the side of the lake, along a sheer rock wall, as shown below.
We trained to Unterterzen (“under thirds”), where we boarded a ferry to our starting point. The ferry boat was filled with families, including many small children, making the trip to hike and picnic in the area. People were very friendly, and I practiced secretly waving and smiling at some small children nearby.
After 15 minutes, we disembarked at the small car-free village of Quinten, only accessible by boat or on foot. Maybe some distant cousins of mine live here? The Wikipedia article describes the town as a “hamlet,” famous for growing grapes (pinot noir!), figs, and kiwis. It is also known for being the home of an awful dude who conducted a witch hunt in the late 1700s.
We were tempted to spend the entire afternoon reading and noshing at the café overlooking the lake. The Schnitzel looks tasty!
The start of the hike was everything we could ask for: wide, well-marked, and well-maintained. We had considerable selfie energy.
The first two miles consisted of rolling hills, easy climbs, and stunning lake views.
We passed some people along the way, but mostly had the trail to ourselves.
About two miles into the hike, the trail became a significant challenge, with a serious vertical ascent across rocky terrain for about a mile. We were ready! For those joining us on outings, we highly recommend hiking poles and boots as they provided the support and stability necessary to reach the top. And what a view from the top!
We reached a meadow filled with wildflowers and a grassy expanse, the payoff we didn’t know awaited.
Stopping to smell the flowers…
It’s too easy to find a magnificent view from this location.
But, it got even better… as we walked along the top ridge, we spotted a small house with some people outside.
We initially thought this was a private residence with people enjoying a Sunday afternoon on their patio. We were happy to be wrong, as this was a café that serves hikers passing through, so we stopped to rest for a bit. The owner didn’t speak English, but his buddy helped with the process. I’m pretty sure we could have communicated “beer” without using words if we needed to. And the German word for “beer” is “Bier.” LOL
The bloke who spoke with us asked us where we are from (California), to which he told us about his last trip to the U.S. He explained how he rented a car and drove from Houston to New Orleans to Memphis. He loved the big highways and driving a convertible with the top down.
I’m surprised by the vacations people from Switzerland take when visiting the U.S. The most common itinerary is to fly to Los Angeles, rent a van, and hit every national park on the West Coast—California to Utah to Wyoming, including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Arches. When I comment that it is more than any trip I would ever have considered, the reply is, “Well, we would never fly to Europe and see five countries in seven days either.” Touché! The U.S.'s mere scale and natural beauty captivate so many, something I forget (except when flying from SFO to the East Coast).
Serious question: Am I living a dream? I’m hiking in the Swiss mountains with my love on a beautiful day, drinking a cold beer as the clouds play with the light shining through, creating a vivid color palette in the meadow. I know that young Colin could never have imagined such a life.
Finished with our beverages, we hiked towards the other end of the lake. The final few miles were not very pleasant; three miles of walking on an access road covered with gravel. No matter, as we approached the end of the hike, we espied the town of Walenstadt, with vineyards on the surrounding hills. There is a micro-climate here that makes it possible to grow grapes and other fruit (who knew?). I have tasted Swiss wine, and while it is better than I imagined, it falls behind the Italian and French wines in abundance here.
By the time we arrived at the bottom, we were pretty tired. The seven-mile hike was a bit rigorous, so we rested for a few minutes lakeside. Walenstadt has an “oceanside” feel, with people at the beach wading into the water and swimming. So many families were out enjoying the day, a sight that uplifts the spirit, and helped inspire us to walk the final mile to the train station.
As a final thought, I have been reflecting on the ideas of “abundance” and “scarcity.” While hiking on Sunday, I kept thinking I should savor the moment and not let it go. I was almost sad to leave Quinten because I chose not to linger in such a special place. “It’s all slipping away too quickly,” I told myself.
Yet, now that we live here, we can return, and this doesn’t have to be my only visit to this place. I’ve been carrying this “short-timer” mindset about living here, trying to enjoy every sunset, every alpine view, and every tasty moment. Jo laughs at me because I get a little tense when planning. What’s my hurry? We have time.
I’m guessing I want a bit of both perspectives. I know I didn’t take advantage of living in California, which makes me want to do everything I can now, as soon as possible. Why waste a single afternoon when I can discover another corner of this city? Yet, what’s the value of rushing through a checklist? Taking the time to enjoy is what brings depth to our experiences.
For now, we will continue to live our Swiss dream, enjoying it as much as possible while stopping to smell the flowers (literally).