Via Alpina: Vaduz to Montreux

I have been obsessed with the Via Alpina Green trail since I discovered the starting point at Montreux on a random day trip. After looking it up, I mapped it out and read multiple articles about the trail. This trail was a dream to me — a chance to cross Switzerland through its most scenic mountain passes.

Here’s a link to a GPX file for the entire tour from Vaduz to Montreux: Via Alpina - GPX Link

For further information about the first section please read my article about my journey from Vaduz to Engelberg here: Eastern Via Alpina Section Link

For information about my journey on the western part of the Via Alpina read my article here: Western Via Alpina Section Link

In order to prep for my Via Alpina journey, I packed all the items pictured below (total weight around 17 kilos without water):

This includes food (dried fruit, nuts, canned tuna, granola bars, rice cakes, and carrots), toiletries and sealed trash bag, quick dry towel, hiking clothes including a swimsuit, hat, packable raincoat and light down coat, headbands, and buff, inflatable mattress and pillow, sleeping bag, tent, hiking sticks, first aid kit (with emergency blanket), sunglasses, electronics case with portable and wall chargers, and whistle.

Via Alpina (West Section): Montreux to Adelboden

Greetings from the French speaking section of the Via Alpina!

After a week long break due to rainy weather, I resumed my Via Alpina trek, but this time starting from the other side at Montreux as the late summer storms had deposited fresh snow on the highest points of the middle section. The week long break allowed me to recover from the exhausting yet exciting eastern section of the Via Alpina. Eager to set off again, I took the long train from Zurich to the French speaking section of Switzerland, where I started my hike from the top of Rochers de Naye. I had previously hiked from Montreux to Rochers de Naye on a different hiking journey, so this time I elected to take the train up to the top. The train ride up provided lovely views of the lake and the mountains surrounding it. As the train approached the top, the rocky, wild formations of Rochers de Naye were revealed. The clouds added an eerily beautiful and dynamic touch to the landscape.

Approaching Rochers de Naye

Since the journey from Zurich was so long, I first indulged in a little rösti and wine at the restaurant at the top. A sizzling cheesy rösti and delicate glass of wine was the perfect way to start off the journey as the warm meal was one of my last of the trip as I elected for easy to eat cans of tuna, dried fruits, and nuts as my main hiking meals.

Sizzling hot rösti and chilled glass of wine before the start of the trek.

The clouds engulfed the top of the mountain as I started down setting a mysterious scene; I could not see much more than a few feet in front of me so every twist and turn of the trail was a hidden surprise. The beauty of each moment was breathtaking, but I was extra cautious of my footing and surroundings since my visibility was so limited.

Start of descent from Rochers de Names

Especially, once the descent started, the ground was damp and slippery, so careful and steady footing was required.

Lack of visibility yet beautifully mysterious

Finally, around of the final turn of the initial descent, the clouds lifted just enough to catch a glimpse of the surrounding mountains and provide a hint of the journey to come.

Glimpse of surrounding mountains under the cloud cover

After the grassy, muddy, and slippery descent on the hillside, there was a short section of road that provided some relief from the more technically challenging damp grass.

Road pictured to the left

The road allowed me to enjoy a little run down hill.