This pilgrimage is both a farewell and a way of carrying Ada’s spirit through the landscapes she loved. Along the way, I will leave small offerings of her ashes in places of beauty — mountains, streams, meadows.
In Switzerland, the handling of human ashes in nature lies at the intersection of love, law, and responsibility. Here, families are entrusted with the ashes of their loved ones. No single national law prohibits scattering in nature, but laws vary by canton.
Some cantons (e.g. Ticino and Uri) permit it under conditions, and often it is traditional, to scatter ashes in nature as long as this is done quietly, with dignity and environmentally safe.*
Ada’s Trail is not only a journey through mountains — it’s a reflection on what it means to return gently to the land that sustained us.
Ada made these photos on one of our hikes.
For my path, I will follow some simple principles:
- 🌿 Respect: Only small amounts of ashes, offered gently, leaving no visible trace.
- 🚫 No disturbance: Not in busy public places, playgrounds, or drinking water sources.
- 🕯️ Silence and presence: Each offering is
a moment of remembrance, not a spectacle. - 🪨 Symbol: I'll carry a small stone from Rossura —
near our home — to release at the final waters of Lake Constance, closing the circle of the journey.
In nature, nothing truly disappears — it only changes form.
A truth Ada understood deeply, both in her art and in her way of being.
These orientations shall keep our path true: intimate, respectful, and in harmony with the traditions of this land.
Would you like to walk a little further with me?
* In Switzerland, cremated ashes are legally considered personal remains and may not be freely dispersed in all locations.
Permission from local authorities or landowners is typically required for scattering ashes in forests, lakes, or mountains.
However, several cantons — especially in more rural areas — allow for symbolic, small-scale acts in nature, provided they are discreet and environmentally safe.
Sources & Notes
- According to Bestatter.ch, the scattering of ashes is permitted in Switzerland, provided it’s done discreetly and in a place where no one is disturbed — but “cantonal and local laws must be observed.” bestatter.ch
- The Cremation Association (SVFB) states that dispersal in nature is allowed, with the condition that relevant cantonal laws are respected, and that scattering in water is often restricted.
kremation-svfb.ch
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