Milky Way Over the Saxer Lücke

The Insta-famous Saxer Lücke had been on my list for a while now.

For years, I had seen the ridgeline shot all over social media and knew I wanted to photograph it myself. As usual, timing and logistics made it more complicated than expected.

A Last-Minute Push to the Saxer Lücke

This trip began with a small disaster. I had lent Jonas a lens, forgetting that my camera was still attached to it. After a quick detour to Zurich to collect my gear, I was already running late.

At a red light near a train crossing, I called the Brülisau cable car station and asked if they could wait just a little longer. They said no, but I hoped the ride might be running behind anyway.

When I arrived at the parking lot in front of the station, a worker was already outside. He looked over and asked if I had just called. I said yes, while trying to answer his questions about tickets. At the same time, I pulled the camera body from one bag, grabbed a beer from the other, and held my tripod under one arm. In all that, I forgot to buy a parking ticket.

As I rushed into the station, I said, “Sorry for cutting it close.”

Another worker in the cable car laughed and replied, “You’re not cutting it close. You’re late!”

It felt like a typical Swiss moment. Straightforward, dry, but with a hint of humor. Thankfully, they had waited exactly one extra minute, and I made it onto the last cable car of the day.

The cable car from Brülisau to Hoher Kasten is a classic aerial lift. It runs regularly during the summer and climbs nearly 900 meters in just eight minutes. It is scenic, reliable, and on that day, just forgiving enough.

This could have been a disaster and put an early end to the trip.

The Saxer Lücke Hike I Underestimated

I expected a short 5-kilometer hike and figured it would take about an hour. What I failed to consider was the 500 meters of elevation gain followed by a steep 400-meter descent. The trail took closer to two and a half hours, especially with gear on my back.

I had the entire path to myself. It was peaceful and beautiful. Along the way, I passed the Staubern cable car, which runs automatically until 10 p.m. That one would have dropped me much closer to the photo spot. If I had prepared better, it would have saved me time and energy.

Sleeping Under the Stars

I reached the Saxer Lücke around eight in the evening. Every flat space was already claimed by tents. Luckily, I had brought my bivouac sack, which gave me flexibility. I met Justin, a young outdoor enthusiast, and two boys who were only fourteen. They were spending the night up there as well.

That is when I found out that camping is not allowed at this location. Since I was planning to shoot the night sky and Milky Way, I did not intend to sleep much anyway.

Challenges and Light Trails at the Saxer Lücke

Photographing the timelapse turned out to be more difficult than I expected. People were constantly walking through the scene with headlamps, leaving bright trails across long exposures. I ate a quick freeze-dried meal, added hot water, and settled in.

I had forgotten my second water bottle in the rush, as well as a charging cable. These oversights made the night more frustrating. To top it off, the camera I had been so worried about had the wrong ISO setting, leaving most of the shots underexposed. Luckily, I had captured everything in raw-format, which allowed me to recover almost all details with a little more noise than necessary.

Ironically, it was the APS-C camera I had brought as backup that ended up capturing the best timelapse of the Milky Way above the Saxer Lücke.

A Lesson in Simplicity

Despite all the missteps, it was a night I won’t forget. Cold stars overhead. The wind moving through the mountains. A ridgeline that lives up to its reputation.

Next time I will bring more water, double-check the gear, and take the right cable car. But even with the mistakes, the experience was worth every step.