Vertical meters above Waldenburg

g wanted to get some vertical meters and at least one long climb in for training, so A  planned the perfect tour. We drove to Waldenburg and then headed up, up out of town towards Hinderi Egg. The plan for the day was that A would hike the route and that g would play dog and run ahead, then come back, then run ahead, etc.

g ran this first stretch (though certainly not fast) up, up to Hinderi Egg and then over to the viewpoint at Chellenchöpfli. Quick appreciation of the Alp view and greetings to the two other trail runners already up there, then back down to meet A just above the parking lot at Waldweid (soooo disappointed to not be further ahead than that!). We walk together for a short bit then g runs ahead again back to Hinderi Egg. Food break at the picnic table there while enjoying the views. Then onwards!

greg running on ahead towards Chellenchöpfli

Now it's down a bit, g running ahead, to the saddle and then up onto the ridge towards Vogelberg. g opts to continue "running" the ridge to Vogelberg itself, down to the saddle, down to the Berggasthaus (closed, of course), and then back up and over the ridge before heading down to Bürten. A bit of back and forth before learning that A is in front at this point. We meetup again at the bench above Bergmatte, have another food break and then walk together down into the valley. At the beginning of the Jägerweg g "runs" ahead again. more climbing up, up to the lift station at Wasserfalle, then running back down, to meet A (who's taken a different route up). 

view down to Hingeri Wasserfallen and up towards Vogelberg

Back up to Wasserfalle where we take a break and enjoy cool beverages (the restaurant is open as a takeout, which is awesome!) before continuing around back towards Waldweid. Again, g runs ahead here to the parking lot and then runs back to meet A. At the parking lot g turns off the running watch (that was enough). We continue past Waldweid and follow the trail around to the beginning of the Richtiflue. Nice path along the top of the flue, and then down, down, down to Waldenburg. Nice views, from an unfamiliar angle, of the castle ruins and the Gerstelgrat along the way.

meeting up at Bergmatte

Track (g, "running"):

Stats: g: 20.8km; 1580m up, 1100m down; 3:27.

 A hiking: