Train From Pontresina To The Morteratsch Glacier
On the little Rhatische Bahn train heading up in altitude to the Morteratsch valley for today's snowshoeing. These trains also continue past the Morteratsch, stopping at the Bernina-Divaolezza lift, and Bernina Lagalb lift. From there it is over the Bernina Pass down into Poschiavo, Italy which would make a great day trip. Poschiavo is the main village in this area situated on Lago di Poschiavo and known for its churches and Palazzi. You could also continue on to Tirano, Italy. The Bernina Pass is the highest altitude open railway crossing of the Alps and the Glacier Express leads from Piz Bernina straight across the Alps to the Matterhorn.
At the opposite end of the Engadine Valley, you can take the Swiss PostAuto coach down to Lake Como and on to Lugano. In Switzerland, it doesn't take very long to get almost anywhere opening up infinite opportunities for touring and sightseeing. But today's destination was most definitely the Morteratsch valley...nirvana for walkers, cross-country skiers and downhill skiers.
If you ski from the top of Diavolezza down to the bottom of the Morteratsch valley, it is a 10 km/6.2 mile ski run. A 10 km run is very common in Europe. I had envisioned (somewhere in my "pea-brain") snowshoeing the 10 km up to the top of the Diavolezza lift and taking the lift down. Over-achiever is my middle name. Of course when ex-Marine got wind of that idea he threw a major hissy fit and we settled for hiking as far as possible into the valley.
There were glacier signs all along the way indicating where and what years the glacier had advanced and retreated...
...huge amounts of people (all ages) walking and cross-country skiing on the tracked and prepared trails...
Approaching the Morteratsch Glacier was a big blue ice cave with people doing some filming. We walked over to explore but were afraid to get too close in case the cave suddenly collapsed.
The main section of the glacier was in front of us ...View image...
...and we both hiked up it a short distance...with me mouthing words of heading to the top of the Diavolezza lift...while ex-Marine cursed, shouted and screamed obscenities back at me.
Just as well...we still had to snowshoe back out of the valley to the train...miles back...but what a beautiful and exhausting day...
