Mount Pilatus - Day 15
When we arrived in Lucerne, at the Tourist Information office in the train station, we had bought Golden Round Trip tickets to Mount Pilatus the mountain the next day.  So the next morning, after a fabulous Swiss breakfast at our B&B, we took the short train ride into town, and walked around for a few minutes before the first part of our trip -- a boat ride across Lake Lucerne -- began.   These Swiss horn blowers put on a concert outside the Culture Center while we were waiting!
   
That's one long horn.  As opposed to Texas longhorns.
   
Lots of long horns!
   
A good look at the big Culture Center.
   
Looking across the harbor.
   
The first part of our journey to Mount Pilatus was via boat across Lake Lucerne.  The boat in this photo is identical to the one we were on.
   
Heading out into the Lake.
   

It was an absolutely perfect day.  Not a cloud in the sky.

Looking back at Lucerne harbor with big Mount Pilatus in the background.
   
The boat was filled with tourists so we couldn't walk around the boat.  We just had to stay in our seats in the bow.
   
Passing by an old style lake boat.
   
A very unusual-looking boat passes by.
   
What a view this Swiss chalet has!  Lake to the front, Mount Pilatus to the rear.
   
We detoured out of the way for a couple of stops.  Now we are heading for Mount Pilatus.
   
Getting closer.
   
Grass-covered slopes at the base of the mountain.
   
On this side of the mountain, you take a cog-wheel train called the Pilatus Railway to the summit.  One of the cog-wheel trains is visible in the center of the picture.
   
There were a lot of tourists like us waiting to go up the mountain.  But they were very organized, and we didn't have to wait too long before it was our turn to go up.  Early in the climb I noticed this airport just a short distance away.
   
A better look at the airport.
 
We were sitting in the train with our backs to the climb and looking downhill.
   
We climbed amazingly quickly.  The cogwheel train here goes up a 48 percent grade -- the world's steepest.  I can believe it.
   
Now passing through a wooded area.
   
Snow-covered mountains come into view.  Snow still around in August?  Wow.
   
A good look at the cog rails.  Those cogs are all that is keeping us from hurtling down the mountain!    These are original rack rails that are now over 100 years old. Great, that's very reassuring.
   
A glider on tow passes below us!  With the spectacular view in the background.
   
Close-up of the glider and tow-plane.
   
An interesting view on the left:  a grassy slope with a few trees ends in a jagged rocky cliff.
   

Sorry for the blurred picture -- my camera's autofocus was having a hard time shooting through the train window -- but this gives you an idea of what we were seeing out the back window.

The Pilatus Railway line was opened using steam traction on 4 June 1889, and was electrified on 15 May 1937.   The government provided no subsidy for the construction of the line. Instead, Eduard Locher established his own company "Locher Systems" to build the railway. The railway was built entirely with private capital and has remained financially viable throughout its life.  The line is operated seasonally: May to October.
   
Getting near the summit -- looking out the right side.
   
Right side again.
   
Left side now.  We are very high, as you can see.  I would estimate 5,000 feet above the valley floor.
   
The steep incline was just ridiculous.  It felt like we were in an elevator.
   
Looking down the mountain.  Notice the trail at lower left.  I was amazed to see hikers.  They had hiked all the way up this steep mountain!
   
On the right, elements of Switzerland's anti-aircraft defense system is visible.
   
Looking down the tracks.
   
The Hotel Pilatus-Kulm -- built in 1900 -- comes into view on the right.  It has 30 rooms.  There is another hotelon the summit you can stay at: the Hotel Bellevue.
   
Disembarking our cogwheel train.
   
 
   
Looking down the way we came up.  The hiking trail is very visible.
   
 
   
The area at the top had some exhibits, a gift store, some food places, the two hotels and some hiking trails.  Oh, it also had stunning views!
   
The Hotel Belleview, with 28 rooms.
   
A better look at the Swiss air defense complex.
   
Looking north, a great shot of Lucerne from 7,000 feet.  The big train station and culture cener are clearly visible.  Lucerne Airport is at far left.
   
7,000 feet.  Pretty high.
   
The cogwheel train comes up one side of Mount Pilatus.  A big aerial cable car goes down the other wide.   Lucerne is at top center.
   
One trail actually went through the mountain.
   
 
   
A better look at Lucerne airport.
   
Looking soutwest.
   
I was excited when a plane flew around the summit.
   
It was an RV!  They are everywhere!
   
The cable car descends to the valley below.
   
Lynnette climbed that trail to an even higher summit.  She is at left-center.
   
Hikers trudging slowly up the mountain.  Maybe in my younger days.
   
We had a nice lunch outside in front of the Hotel Pilatus-Kulm.  We shared a table with a friendly young couple who had hiked up.
   
An intricate model of one of the old steam-powered cogwheel trains.
   
Steam-powered?  I don't know.
   
Notice how the rails are anchored to the stone bed.  Also, you can sort of see how the cogwheel system works.
   
Mountain goat!
   
The cable car station high over the Swiss Alps.
   
 
   
Looking northwest through an observation port in the cave trail down the mountain at a solitary church on one of the sub-peaks.
   
Actually, the cable car only descends about a third of the way down the mountain.  You get off and catch a gondola that goes down the rest of the way.
   
Looking through a hole in the mountain.
   
One last look at the cogwheel train going up/down the mountain.
   
We spent a couple of hours at the summit.  Now we are about ready to board the aerial cable car.
   
Looking at one of the highest points.  The "windows" of the cave trail  are visible below.
   
Now we are in the very modern cable car with an awesome view.
   
Passing by that solitary church on the mountain top.
   
Looking north at Lucerne.
   
We deparked the cable car at the Frakmuntegg station.  Looking back the way we just came
   
There is a recreational area here at Frakmuntegg with a playground, high-wire traverse, and luge run.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
We didn't stay here long but there was a bunch of things to do if a family wanted to make a day of it.
   
Lynnette and I both did the luge run -- visible at lower right.  It was fun.
   
A better look at the luge run.  You go down on the luge thing.  Then the T-bar system brings you back up the hill.
   
About to go down the hill in the luge.  They would not allow you to take photos or video with your smartphone while on the luge, for obvious reasons.  It would be easy to get going to fast and fly off the track with bad results.
   
Pilatus the dragon makes an appearance.
   
A nice diagram of Mount Pilatus.  We went up the cogwheel train on the left and came down via the cable car/gondola on the right.
 
We took the gondola down, then caught a bus back to the train station.  So we ended up traveling today by boat, cogwheel train, aerial cable car, gondola and bus -- all covered by our Golden Round Trip ticket.
   
Back in Lucerne, in the inner harbor.
   

The late afternoon sun really lit up the pretty flowers on the Chapel Bridge.

What a great day!  I highly recommend visiting Mount Pilatus if you are ever in the area.
   
 
   
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