10 Things for Adventurers to do in Ascona-Locarno

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Last summer, my husband Matt and I had the opportunity to travel to the Ticino region of Switzerland for a week-long adventure. The canton of Ticino is located in southern Switzerland, and has a large Italian influence and feel, from the language to the architecture, and cuisine. This region is also located near water and surrounded by mountains, making it a destination for any type of adventurer. As jacks of all trades and masters of none, we were excited to visit this area and dabble in everything it had to offer. Here are 10 of our favorite things to do there:

1) Trail run or hike (or mountain bike)

Ascona-Locarno is a trail mecca! From sea to summit, there are hundreds of trails to explore on foot or bike. Since trail running is by far one of our favorite ways to explore a new area, we spent the majority of our time here in the foothills of the Swiss Alps and the mountains.

2) Go canyoneering

The Ticino region is known around the world for their canyoneering. This was our first time doing this and it was INCREDIBLE. A little scary (but safe!) at times, and super fun!

3) Paddle on the lake

Lake Maggiore offers so many recreational water activities, such as stand up paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming. We paddled at sunset for a truly unforgettable experience.

4) Explore the lakeside towns

Ascona is located on the shore of Lake Maggiore and holds an annual Jazz festival, The Ascona Jazz Festival. This cute town is filled with culture, delicious food, and beautiful architecture. Pro tip: don’t forget to stop for risotto and an Aperol spritz at a lakeside café!

Locarno is located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore and at the southern tip of the Swiss Alps. It is known for having the warmest climate in Switzerland with 2300 hours of sunshine a year. Right outside of the town is the Verzasca Valley - a beautiful valley with jade green water and a famous bridge that people jump off of. I couldn’t gather the courage to jump off of it, but Matt did!

5) Explore the mountain towns

One of our favorite places we visited on this trip was the town of Foroglio, in the Bavona Valley. This off-the-grid small village is tucked away in the valley with no electricity. Things not to miss here: the beautiful waterfall behind the city (you can hike to the top of it too!), and Ristorante La Froda. I ate the best pizzoccheri here, which is a local noodle dish made from buckwheat, combined with potatoes, cheese and vegetables.

6) Stay in a mountain refugio

This was an experience that I will never forget! Getting out of the towns and into the mountains gives you a whole new perspective on how big and amazing these actually mountains are! We stayed the night in these stone huts, which are self-manned and have sleeping quarters, bathrooms, and even a kitchen. You can either hike or take a helicopter into these huts, which make them especially accessible. We brought a lot of cheese, potatoes, wine and beer up to the huts to make a delicious fondue dinner, which we enjoyed outside on a beautiful granite table by candlelight- truly a night I will cherish forever!

7) Eat at a grotto

The grottos in town have some of the best food that you can imagine! These are typically located in shaded, quiet places, where you can enjoy delicious, local food on large granite tables with friends and family. We enjoyed a delicious, multi-course dinner at Grotto America on our one of last nights in town. Truly a great way to spoil ourselves and cap off an amazing week!

8) See the sunrise or sunset from a mountain

Do this at least once on your trip - you won’t forget it! The sunrise or sunset over the mountains and lakes make the experience extra magical . You can hike, take a gondola, or drive up to the tops of some of the mohntains in town, making it accessbile for just about anyone.

9) Relax by the river

The valleys contain a lot of rivers, and spending time swimming or relaxing by them makes for a refreshing afternoon on a hot day! We swam, went bridge jumping, and drank beers on the rocks by the shore - a perfect way to spend those really hot summer days!

10) Meet the locals

Traveling is all about immersing yourself into new cultures, and the culture sure is rich here in Ascona-Locarno. One of our favorite parts of this trip was meeting all of the locals and learning about their own favorite parts of this region. Here’s a glimpse of some of the incredible people we met (and a great video of our trip!).

Trail Running for Beginners: Tips From the Experts

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So you want to start trail running. Awesome! But where to begin? I get this question a lot, but unfortunately I am no expert. Sure, I love long miles on the trails but I’m also ‘that’ girl carrying a beer in her pack, so my advice should definitely be taken with a grain of salt. So I spoke to some experts in the field (and luckily for me, some of my closest friends and women I admire) to get their advice. These women have all won races, balance a full time job with their running careers, and are some of the most humble people in the sport. Each one of these inspirational athletes adhere to a different style of training, racing and recovery, and have graciously shared with me their best tips for those who want to start trail running.

1) Kaytlyn Gerbin

Photo credit: Ely Gerbin

Photo credit: Ely Gerbin

Kaytlyn is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the trails. When she’s not crushing ultramarathon races and crazy weekend mountain adventures, she works as a bioengineer for the Allen Institute. One (of the many) things that deeply inspire me about her is that she didn’t start running until college! It just goes to show you that it’s never too late to try something new. Her weekend adventures and weekday run commuting have inspired me for years, and it has been exciting to watch her inspire thousands of others through her notable 100-mile performances, such as her recent win and new female course record at the Bear 100 and her 2nd place finish at Western States 100 in 2018. She also just crushed the Trans Gran Canaria 128km, taking second place woman! And if that isn’t inspiring enough, she traveled to Spain last year to represent the US at the Trail Running Championships.

Kaytyn’s advice? “If you’re a hiker but want to try trail running, swap your boots for trail runners on your hikes. Throw in some shorter run segments by walking uphill and jogging parts of the downhill. Don’t worry about pace and switch back to hike-mode if things get really technical! If you’re a regular road runner and want to start trail running, ignore your pace. Road running does not equal trail running pace! Variable terrain, winding trails, ups and downs, etc all slow down your mileage pace while your effort may still be high. Start on less technical, wider trails… or don’t! But then care less about your pace, and remember that even the best trail/mountain runners still hike up hills.”

2) Ladia Alberton-Junkans

Photo credit: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

Photo credit: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

Ladia seems to excel with every type of race she tries, no matter the distance and no matter the surface. Her holistic, balanced, and cheerful approach to running and life has inspired me to push harder while training and recover better when resting. She is able to balance racing marathons and ultra distances with a full time job as a programmer analyst for a health research institute. Her most inspiring races in 2018 include winning Way Too Cook 50k (in the 4th fastest time!), qualifying for the Olympic Marathon Trials, placing 4th at the Broken Arrow Sky Race 52k, and placing 3rd at the Speedgoat 50k. She has also represented the US at the Trail Running Championships in 2017.

While the act of putting on running shoes and going out for a job is inherently simple, there are a lot of safety issues to consider and things to pack when transitioning into trail running. Here’s Ladia’s list for ensuring that you stay safe while having fun on your adventure:

1) Communication - Whether running alone or with others, always let someone know your planned route and expected time back. Remember to factor in time out of cell range when estimating an expected return time. Bring your phone but realize you may not have reception in some areas. For longer, more remote runs, especially in the mountains, you’ll want to carry a pack with extra clothes, water, food, and emergency bivy. Consider carrying a way to purify water for longer and/or remote runs so you can refill as you go and for emergency use.

2) Wildlife - Trail running is a fun way to explore nature and getting out into the wild means a chance to encounter wildlife. Encounters with wildlife are extremely rare but it’s important to know what to do if it happens. This article from Trail Runner mag can help you know what to do (and not to do) with regards to wildlife on the trail.

3) Route-Finding - You’ll want a map and if GPS xploring a new area, especially if it is more remote and/or has an extensive trail network. I like to use the Gaia GPS app for trip planning and route-finding along the way. It’s well worth the 7ish dollar annual subscription fee. Phones and technology can be great tools but it’s important to always carry a paper map and compass (and know how to use them) as back-up. If running with partner(s), consider having one person keep their phone off for emergency use only (e.g., in case the primary phone runs out of battery or stops working).

4) Recreation Passes - Many of the trails below (and others) require a recreation pass in order to legally park at the trailhead. This article from Washington Trails Association can help you determine which pass you need. The WTA also lists the necessary pass for each trailhead in the hike description.

5) Carry the essentials - whenever I run on trails, I make sure to bring the following: a fully charged phone, water, snacks (fruit snacks and granola bars are great!), a light jacket just in case (or heavier if it’s raining or winter and, thus, might be cooler), and a handkerchief (doubles as a bandage if necessary!). For long runs or big days in the mountains, I carry a LOT more, including an emergency bivvy and headlamp. Let me know if you plan on doing anything long or further away and I’ll go into more detail on that.

3) Keely Henninger

Photo credit: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

Photo credit: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

To say Keely has had an amazing year of running in 2018 would be an understatement. This speedy woman won both the Chuckanut 50k and Lake Sonoma 50 miler this spring and the Tussey Mountainback 50 miler this fall with a blazing fast time of 6:37! And she does all this while balancing her training with her work at Nike, which often has her traveling around the world. She has only been competing in ultras for the last 5 years, yet has been hugely successful in the sport, and has seemed to get even stronger every single year.

So, what’s Keely’s secret? What tips and tricks has she learned that have helped her transition from a “beginner trail runner” to the successful athlete she is today?

First, she suggests running hills by starting slow. “Hills suck for everyone.  But if you can learn to put your head down and grind it out, it will be over before you know it and you will recover on the descent (I promise).  Start with short hills, just get comfortable doing strides on them. Slowly increase your distance and number of reps.  If you start off having to hike the longer hills, practice incorporating mixes of hike/run into the hill! Hills are also great for building fitness, you land with less force, which means less force and impact on the joints, and you can work at a higher, harder, rate without having to run as fast or as far as you would have to on flat ground.”

Keely also stresses that it’s really important to get comfortable with pain. “One of the things I hear a lot from runners considering longer distance races is that they wouldn't be able to run X miles (enter absurd distance here) because it would hurt too much.  They are right. It does hurt.  All long runs will hurt at some point. But if you can acknowledge the pain before hand and try to be strong and tough through it, then you will be able to complete the run. Having a strong mind is just as important as the body, and if you can become accepting and comfortable with pain, you will be able to do whatever you set your mind to!  Practicing longer runs in training and pushing through things that are uncomfortable will make tackling your next long goal run or race that much easier!”

Lastly, (and most importantly, in my expert opinion as a sports nutritionist), her advice is to eat, eat, eat! “Practice eating before runs, after runs and during runs.  Consuming calories and enough water during long runs and races is the key to success in ultras. Bonking is not fun so we want to avoid that at all costs! Initially bring snacks that you look forward to eating during a run.  Then as your stomach adapts start to really count the calories (shoot for 250-400 per hour based off intensity and caloric demands, with higher intensity and a higher metabolism/body weight needing more calories!) and implement foods that are easier to carry (gels, gummies, caloric drink mixes).”

4) Marissa Floodman

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Marissa took home her first trail win in 2018 at the first Speedgoat 25k, but she’s no stranger to trail running. She ran cross country and track in college for Utah State and has competed in many trail races throughout Oregon and Utah. She balances her passion for running with her job as a physical therapist, and truly excels at both. She integrates running and adventures into her daily life in a seamless, balanced and healthy way while staying strong, injury free, and motivated.

Like Kaytlyn, Marissa feels similarly about hills: “It's always best to also choose a trail that is primarily flat to begin with. No need to start trail running by tackling huge hills. Find a trail that is relatively flat with great scenery - this will get you hooked on trail running and will build your confidence to explore harder trails.”

But she also advises to find a friend to run with because it can help ease the initial fear of trail running. “Find a friend who knows the trails and would be willing to take you out. It can be frightening at first to run trails if you don't know where the trails go and fear getting lost.  Friends are always willing to help you explore! Don't get caught up in the thoughts of "I'm too slow, my friends wouldn't want to take me." Make a plan with your friend to always wait at trail breaks so you can each go your own pace but always make sure to keep each other in sight.”

And my favorite advice of hers: “Keep running fun! Take time to explore new trails once a week, find a group to run with weekly so you aren't always running solo, and sign up for a race to give yourself a goal. Goals are huge motivation to help you wake up early and get a run in or put in the mileage despite working a full day! “

5) Jennifer Love Fisher

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When I think of strong female runners, Jenn’s name always pops up to the top of the list. She excels at all distances of ultrarunning, from 50ks to 100 milers. She is able to balance a strict training regiment with a full time job in marketing by often getting in her miles through run commuting. She works hard to balance her running with strength training so that she can stay injury free throughout the year, and isn't afraid to keep running fun and interesting by enjoying some tacos or beer in the middle of a long training run. She’s an integral part of the outdoor community here in Portland, inspiring women both near and far. She has placed first in a handful of ultras in the PNW, and had an inspiring 2nd place finish last year at Cascade Crest 100.

Jenn’s advice? “Ditch the watch! A lot of newbie trail runners let a slower pace on the trails get under their skin. Naturally, you will be forced to slow down over varying terrain that climbs, descends, and throws obstacles under your feet. It's a good thing! Embrace it. Know that overtime your pace will increase simultaneously along with new muscular strength. Be okay with not being a slave to your watch in the beginning, and enjoy your new experiences in nature!”

And finally, my advice? Don’t take running too seriously. After all, it’s as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. If trail running starts to feel too hard or stressful, remember why you started running in the first place and channel those reasons. Remember, we GET to run… we don’t HAVE to run. And if that doesn’t help, take a rest day. Let your body and mind recover so that you come back fresh the next day. Sometimes a simple reset like that is all we need to motivate us again and help us to remember why we trail run. Most of all, HAVE FUN. Bounding over roots and rocks, through dense forests, across perfect single track, to beautiful vistas can bring immense feelings of happiness and gratitude. It makes me feel like a kid all over again by giving me the freedom to explore this beautiful world we live in.

Happy trails, my friends!

Lucerne, Switzerland: Gateway to the Mountains

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Switzerland: land of cheese, wine, chocolate, and some of the most amazing mountains in the world. Last month, I was offered the most amazing opportunity with Swiss International Air Lines to travel to Lucerne, Switzerland for a week with my girlfriends Meghan and Emily to explore the city and the surrounding areas. Naturally, I couldn't wait to eat some of the best cheese and chocolate in the world, but I was most excited to explore the surrounding trails and mountains. I've been dreaming about the Swiss Alps ever since I traveled to Switzerland with my parents in 2011. 

Lucerne is a gateway to some of the most amazing mountains (and an awesome lake!) I've ever hiked, ran, and played on. The opportunities for outdoor adventures were endless and we just barely skimmed the surface of all there is to do there. If you like to hike, run, ski, climb, go paragliding, kayak, mountain bike and/or road bike, this place is heaven. 

Lucerne

In just five short days, we were able to explore these mountains in so many different ways. Take a look below at some of my favorite adventures in some of Lucerne's beautiful regions - this city truly offers every type of mountain adventure you desire!

Mt Pilatus

Mt Pilatus - the infamous mountain that overlooks Lucerne. We were fortunate to stay on top of the mountain at the Hotel Pilatus-Kulm for a night, where we had access to many amazing trails right outside of our door! This specific trail ended up being one of my favorite runs in Switzerland. The view of the Alps and Lake Lucerne from Mt Pilatus blew my mind. After this run, we enjoyed the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen. Definitely a day to remember! 

Engelberg

Engelberg is a quaint mountain town straight out of my wildest dreams. You can do everything here - run, hike, ski, climb, mountaineer, mountain bike and paraglide. It is truly an adventurer's paradise. 

Trail Running

I don't know what was better - the trails or the views from the trails! I can't wait to come back and explore more of this area on foot.

Paragliding

Paragliding has always been on the top of my bucket list! When our hosts in Engelberg surprised us with an opportunity to go paragliding in the Swiss Alps, I could barely contain my excitement! We flew over the Alps with breathtaking views of Mt Titlus and its neighboring peaks, high above the city of Engelberg. And boy, was it was every bit as surreal as I had imagined. 10/10 would do it again!

Climbing (Via Ferrata)

We also had the opportunity here to do a via ferrata. For those who are unfamiliar with a via ferrata, it is essentially a protected climbing route in the mountains, using steel cables, rungs, pegs or ladders to limit the danger of falling. It's a cool and safer way to experience the mountains and enjoy the views from a different perspective. I had a ton of fun on our via ferrata and would love to go back again to try a different route! 

Mountaineering

On the night before my birthday, we were lucky enough to be given the chance to sleep overnight on Mt Titlis (central Switzerland's highest peak). Normally, people are only allowed to access this area during the day by using the gondola and funicular, so it was a really special experience. I took this opportunity to "run" up Mt Titlis (10,623 ft) for a little sunset summit, using a set of poles and some microspikes. From the top of the gondola, it is only a short hike on snow and ice of about 800 ft of gain. While I wouldn't really call this "mountaineering" in the slightest sense, some care had to be taken to avoid a couple small crevasses. Afterwards, we enjoyed a spectacular sunset over the Alps and a sky full of stars!

Beckenried – Klewenalp Region

This region lies about an hour boat ride from Lucerne. Once we arrived, we took a cable car up to ~1400 feet with views of South Lake Lucerne and Rigi. From the top, we were able to access dozens of trails of varying distances and elevation gain. We chose the hike to Risetenstock and were rewarded with ridgeline running and 360 views of the Alps. 

Burgenstock

Just a short boat ride away, Burgenstock is a beautiful area that overlooks Lucerne, Mt Pilatus and the Swiss Alps. We were pretty jetlagged when we arrived here, but we pushed through and went on a beautiful sunset hike. I would love to go back and explore more of the trails in this area.