Capricorn safari – hunting on Mount Pilatus

During the week, swap your office clothes for hiking boots and a down jacket to break out of your everyday routine for a moment. Sounds tempting, right? Last Wednesday I did just that. At 3:oo p.m. I said to my office friends “Bye – see you tomorrow at noon”. Equipped with warm clothing and sturdy shoes, we make our way to the top of Mount Pilatus. We already found out in February that Lucerne’s local mountain (which is actually half on Nidwalden and half on Obwalden soil) is an excellent destination for lazy people. But Mount Pilatus also reveals other wonderful facets, such as the fact that it is home to a colony of ibex. More than 100 animals inhabit the chain Steiglihorn – Esel – Tomlishorn – Widderfeld – Stäfeliflue – Risetenstock. They are the protagonists of our short break in the middle of the week.

We take part in an ibex safari on Mount Pilatus early in the morning – led by an experienced old gamekeeper. The prelude to the safari takes place the evening before with an introductory aperitif including detailed information on the history of ibex in the Alpine region and a joint dinner. We had secretly wished for nice weather. Logically, if there is already the opportunity to spend the night on Mount Pilatus and capture the sunset photographically. Nothing there! Instead of admiring the golden evening light, I look through the windows of the rack railway at thick raindrops. Nevertheless, the outlook is not entirely gloomy. Suddenly, a herd of chamois crosses the track and scurries past us towards the rock face. This increases my hope that we will get the King of the Alps in front of the lens the next day.

Once at the top, we examine our room at the Hotel Pilatus-Kulm and, after the detailed information from the gamekeeper, enjoy a fine 4-course menu together with the other Steinbock Safari participants. During dinner, we all listen intently to the anecdotes of Rudolf Käch. The former gamekeeper entertains us with all kinds of exciting stories and lets us go to bed with a “Schreckmümpfeli”.

The next morning we meet shortly after seven o’clock for tea and coffee – the refreshment before the morning march. Mount Pilatus was slightly sugared overnight and the cloudy weather persisted. But still, before the fog envelops us again, we admire how the first rays of sunshine make the peaks of the Bernese Alps glow. We follow Rudolf Käch, who leads us along the rock path towards Tomlishorn. Will the ibexes show up today? We are curious and from time to time look searchingly through the binoculars. Soon Robert Käch shows us the first stone goat, which follows the edge of the slope with its fawn about a hundred meters below us. Shortly before the Tomlishorn, there is an abrupt stop. With one index finger on his mouth, Robert Käch points with the other into the mist in front of us. There! One Capricorn, two Capricorns, three, four, five… Fascinated, we stop.

Ibex is “tourist-friendly” because it doesn’t flee immediately, gamekeeper Robert Käch told us the day before. That this is true is impressively demonstrated by a stone goat. Less than three meters away from us, she continues to chew calmly after a critical glance at the group, while we cheerfully snap her from all angles. The photo hunters are satisfied. Due to the thickening fog, we forego the few meters of altitude up to the Tomlishorn – for the view we have to come back to the Pilatus another day – and return to the Hotel Pilatus-Kulm, where we arrive shortly before half past nine. Here we fortify ourselves at the breakfast buffet before we glide down into everyday life with a view of a unique light and cloud atmosphere. Shortly before noon I am back at my office desk and can hardly believe that less than 24 hours have passed since I left it. An experience that enriched my week wonderfully.

Information about the Capricorn Safari

We took part in the last Capricorn safari of the summer season 2016. It is possible to stay at the Hotel Bellevue (from 249 CHF per person in a double room) or at the Pilatus-Kulm (from 299 CHF per person in a double room). The price includes the ascent and descent, aperitif, ibex information and guided tour, dinner, morning coffee and breakfast buffet. As soon as the dates for the next season are known, I will add them to the post. In any case, a great opportunity to get to know the flora and fauna of Mount Pilatus better. In good weather conditions, the overnight stay also offers phenomenal photo spots for panoramic pictures in the evening and morning light (our bad weather in honor, admittedly the drizzle has already wormed me a bit).

Pilatus-Bahnen AG invited us to this experience. Thank you very much for this. All impressions/opinions are, as always, ours.

Merken