Trip to Swiss heart-shaped lake around mid October

  • Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    22 July 2017 at 8:07:26 #812694

    Hi I have plan to go to Switzerland this October After i finish my Business trip in Germany.

    I REALLY want to go to the Heart shape lake in the picture

    So far I know about Piora valley, Tocino and That it.

    So i am really not sure where it’s locate. How to get there.

    So anyone Know about this Place Please help me.

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    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    22 July 2017 at 10:20:49 #867176

    Hi swtcyn –

    Welcome to My Swiss Alps.

    I don’t recognize that beautiful lake, but perhaps one of our more experienced members may.

    Is it one of the three lakes in the Piora Valley? This link could be a start:

    http://www.placestoseeinyourl ifetime.com/three-colorful-lakes-in-gorgeous-piora-valley-switzerland-12402/

    If it is one of those lakes…and one of them (Lake Tom) seems to be about the right shape, then this map will show you where it is:

    map.search.ch/?q=Lake+cadagno&near=69 7683%2C156205&z=64

    Zoom in and out, and switch back and forth between the map view and the aerial view.

    You will see that the valley is located near Airolo, a town in the Gotthard pass. There is rail service and bus service. Icons on the map will show bus and train stations, as well as a lift or cable car up to the lakes from a town called Ambri-Piotta. (If you do not see icons for ststions, look in the menu under “points of Interest/Traffic” and turn on the icons.

    And, this map give lots of details about the geography.

    map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=ech&lang=en&bgLa yer=ch.swisstopo.pixel karte-farbe&layers=ch.bav.ha ltestellen-oev,ch.swisstopo.swiss tlm3d-wanderwege&layers_visi bility=false,false&X=1 56225.45&Y=696839.79&z oom=7

    I do not guarantee that those lakes are the ones that you are looking for, but you did mention the name Piora Valley, so that is where I looked.

    Lake Tom is at 2022 meters above sea level elevation.

    I’ll caution you that by the middle of October, at that altitude, you are just getting to the beginning of the Winter season in the high Alps, and it is possible that snow could block access . It looks like you might have to hike to reach it. It is about 3-4 km from the top station of the cable car, with a 200 meter or more altitude change.

    From what town will you start your journey?

    You can use the timetable to learn about travel times and schedules:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

    Ambri-Piotta station is about 2 1/2 hours by train from Zürich main station, or about 46 minutes from Bellinzona.

    Snow in the Alps is not definite in mid-October, but it is quite possible. It is more likely the higher you are. Weather is highly dependent on altitude. Could you visit before your business trip?

    This page, especially the links about weather and time of year will help you with your trip planning.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ge ttingstarted

    and http://www.myswissalps.com/ab outswitzerland

    Follow the links…some are several layers deep.

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    23 July 2017 at 1:44:19 #867177

    Hi swtcyn

    If that lake is really located in the Piora Valley in Ticino, I agree with Slowpoke that it is likely to be Lago di Tom, Quinto, Switzerland.

    However, I suspect the photo you posted has either been mis-labelled or enhanced. If you look at aerial views of the lake in Google Satellite view, the heart shape is not so perfectly defined as the one in your photo. It also seems likely to me that the photo you posted has been photoshopped: that reflection of clouds in the lake does not look at all natural to me. Perhaps the heart shape has also been enhanced. It looks too perfect for a natural lake.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that, if you are at ground level beside the lake, the heart shape will not be apparent in the same way as it is from a height. So if you wanted to see the heart shape, that means climbing higher, and of course descending again. You would want to have proper hiking shoes or boots, and probably a hiking pole as well. As Slowpoke also mentioned, snowy conditions are a distinct possibility at that time of the year at that altitude. You would need to be prepared with suitable warm and waterproof shoes and clothing.

    All in all, it would not surprise me if you were disappointed in what you saw when you got there, if you were expecting to see the same view as in the photo.

    If you are looking for stunning, easily accessible scenery, I would suggest you head to the Jungfrau Region, and stay in Wengen, Mürren or Grindelwald for a few days.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion

    There is a walk to a beautiful lake (which is not, however, heart-shaped) that might still be open if you are not there too late in October. It is called the Bachalpsee, and here are further details:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/bachsee

    Alpenrose

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