Via Alpina, July 17--August 8, 2022 - Tuesday july 19 weisstannen to elm

Tuesday July 19: Weisstannen to Elm

We were up early this morning to get a good start on our first long day. Today would cross our first pass, the broad and grassy Foopass. Our destination, Elm, was a full 24 kilometers from Weisstannen, none of which we could eliminate with public transport.

We stopped at a farm/café for coffee. They had pigs.

Then we headed up the valley in the direction of the Foopass.

Just before the pass, we stopped at a high farm on the Fooalp for a snack.

The farm appeared unmanned except for some cows, but it sold drinks in a self-service box, entirely on the honor system.

I’d bought some picnic Eier, or hard-boiled eggs in Sargans the day before. They were bio, or organic, as are most produce products these days. These became a staple of our Via Alpina diet.

The Foopass isn’t the highest or hardest pass by any means, but it still provided plenty of challenge, especially on our second day on the trail.

Looking forward toward Elm and tomorrow’s pass, the Richetlipass.

Chris’s metabolism hadn’t caught up with the time of day – his body thought it should still be in bed – and he was literally raining sweat as we climbed. He drank all his water on the ascent. This part of the trail was a good place to run out of water, though. The hill on the downhill side of the Foopass was full of mountain springs pouring forth the purest, coolest water. It was like the elixir of Lothlorien!

Fortunately, I’d just bought a Coke from those cows, so I had a bottle with which to collect this spring water.

Just because a path leads gently downhill doesn’t mean it’s short or easy! We were feeling quite tired by the time we knocked off the last few kilometers and strolled into Elm around 5:30.

Elm, finally! Elm is the origin of the name “Elmer.”

Elm is famous for this hole in the mountains. It’s called Martin’s Hole, and twice a year the sun shines right through it onto the church.