[Anonymous]

5 December 2018 at 7:47:15 #819108

I and 3 of my friends are planning for a hiking starting from Lake Geneva to Le Moléson. Has anyone hiked along this path? How long did it take you to the destination? We also want to camp outside so we have enough time to enjoy the beauty of nature. But to be honest, we don’t know too much about this area, so I think we need some advice from those who have been there. We have experience in hiking, but not in camping. So we need to buy more gear: tent, sleeping bag, mattress, flashlight. If we cook, we also need to buy cookers. Are there some stores sell these stuffs nearby? And please let me know what else I am missing. Thanks! We are moving off in March next year.

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[User]

Reply 1 of 10 • 6 December 2018 at 1:14:55 #899965

Hi Tony

Welcome to My Swiss Alps.

Here are some first thoughts.

March is still pretty nasty, even in that relatively warm part of Switzerland.

“Wild”camping is severely restricted.

http://www.myswissalps.com/ca mpsites

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/hiking-in-november-wildcamping

Although there are fewer inns than there used to be, there are still mountain huts. The Swiss style is, in general, to hike with minimal bedding and stay at inns or huts.

Here is topo map with trails, which are well marked:

map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=swisstopo&lang=e n&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo .pixelkarte-farbe&layers=ch.swisst opo.swisstlm3d-wanderwege&zoom=3&E=25 20065.42&N=1145042.67

Why did you pick March?

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 2 of 10 • 6 December 2018 at 2:26:30 #899966

Thanks very much for your suggestions. And we have to make it March due to our schedule is limited to that period. So if not March, when do you think is the time to set off?

Another question: I am wondering if I should upgrade my backpack since we will be carrying more stuffs. And I was just hanging around a hiking forum that led me to the below backpack review. I think 60 litters is needed. What do you say?

[User]

Reply 3 of 10 • 6 December 2018 at 8:04:35 #899967

Hi Tony,

If it were me and I was planning to hike and wild camp in Switzerland I’d not get started until late May for altitudes are 2000 meters (Le Moleson). You will probably have snow as you start climbing around 1500 meters or perhaps lower than that depending on the winter we have. March is very much winter on mountain tops.

I’d contact the mountain directly to inquire about hiking options at that time of year and where to camp or stay. http://www.moleson.ch/en/rand onnees-estivales/hiking-trail-map/

Are you starting off from Montreux or closer to the mountain?

• http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en /hiking-in-switzerland/services/p laces-of-interest/sehenswuerdig keit-0487.html
• http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en/le-moleson-the-stars-seem-close-enough-to-touch.html

[User]

Reply 4 of 10 • 6 December 2018 at 12:23:45 #899968

I think that if I were doing that, at that time of year, I’d be sure to invest in a REGA membership….which I already have done because of the amount of hiking that I do.

http://www.rega.ch/en/home.as px

And, if I’d not done it before, I’d practice for a night or so near home.

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 5 of 10 • 6 December 2018 at 13:38:10 #899969

Excellent point!

[User]

Reply 6 of 10 • 6 December 2018 at 13:43:05 #899970

<<“So if not March, when do you think is the time to set off? “>>

Late June through late September.

http://www.google.com/search?q=annual+temperature+r ange+le+Moleson%2C+Swi tzerland&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1

I’d not be surprised if there was still lots of skiing there in March.

http://www.skiresort.info/ski -resort/moleson/

Slowpoke

[Snowman]

Reply 7 of 10 • 6 December 2018 at 22:29:19 #899971

Hi Tony,

I think yours is a great idea. You will discover areas of Switzerland not too much visited by foreign tourists. But you must absolutely consider Slowpoke’s and Lucas’ remarks, they make sense. March is absolutely too early to go to Moleson. And, indeed, practice camping with all involved friends in advance. And what is exactly your hiking experience? It should be on 6-hour hikes in a mountaineous area, if possible by bad weather. Not just from the car park to Cucumber Falls (this is a 10-minute hike that was advised to me when I wanted to hike in Pennsylvania…)

Don’t search the appropriate backpack on the internet, get the advice from a professional salesman. 55 liters should be appropriate. Bächli, in Lausanne ( http://www.baechli-bergsport.ch/fr/filial e/lausanne.htm ), is a good outdoor sports shop. Your boots will be as important as your backpack, but you should wear them before this hike.

I have hiked in the area, from Montreux to Col de Jaman, and from there to Montbovon. Based on that, I would say that from Montreux to Moleson you would need three to four days.

[Snowman]

Reply 8 of 10 • 6 December 2018 at 22:38:40 #899972

< we need to buy more gear: (…) flashlight >

Tony, are you really sure you want to do this? If you don’t already own a flashlight, I mean…

Or, just in case:

http://www.moongiant.com/full moons/2019/

[Snowman]

Reply 9 of 10 • 7 December 2018 at 7:16:21 #899973

Tony,

After reading your post again, I now think you are kidding us with your “project”.

But, just in case, note that all those replying to your post strongly advise you not to undertake such a hike.

< please let me know what else I am missing > What about some common sense?

[Arno]

Reply 10 of 10 • 7 December 2018 at 7:56:27 #899974

@Snowman: please keep it friendly even if plans seem naive. If people start with some rough ideas, then sometimes the plan is just not doable, and the forum can help with alternatives.

@Tony: please elaborate on your plans and whether you are making changes based on the above recommendations. You should either go some other time (http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit) or do something else I guess.