The world’s first hammock hiking trail in southern Switzerland takes hikers into quiet corners of the Alps – with their beds in their backpack for lazy pit stops and overnight stays
t was a summer’s morning in the Lepontine Alps in Ticino, Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton, and there was the vague threat of a storm on the horizon. I was already out on a trail through larch and hazelnut forest, backpack shouldered, aiming for a mountain pass.
In my rucksack was a lightweight rented hammock from the Panetteria Sartori bakery , which was also handy for picking up supplies – a nut-filled pastry felt essential. The hammock trail is a community-spirited initiative and part of the idea is to engage, support and communicate with locals, so they can share their passion for the valley’s quiet places with outsiders.
The air turned drizzly and I pushed further up the mountain towards the second station, hidden in a belt of trees. A red kite soared. Under a pop of blue from behind the clouds I unfurled the hammock again.
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