solitary_summer | (no subject) (Reply)

These are from last Sunday, although after last week at work it feels so much longer than that. From Mitterlengau up the Schusterkogel, and then along the rim of the valley via Teufelssprung and Hohe Penhab back down again. The mood is very different here, because while the mountains are about the same height, this is slate rather than limestone, so there are alpine meadows right up until 2.000+ m. (Which personally I'm not so very fond of, because cows? Large heavy animals with pointy horns, and not always so peaceful, especially when they're in a herd with their calves. I'd definitely prefer them behind fences. At least it was apparently still too early in the year for them to be all the way up, so most of the hike was blessedly bovine-free...)

This was also the most relaxed tour, because I didn't put any pressure on myself, but let myself stop for taking pictures, breaks, or just to sit down and enjoying the view for a bit, because I knew I had to drive back to Vienna the next day and really, really didn't want to leave. I don't remember having felt so at peace for a long time, although sadly last week killed that mood pretty fast.

Horses, for a change. At least better than cows, although I try to keep a respectful distance too...

View up the Schusterkogel. A little further up (past the ridge jutting into the slope from the left) I saw three chamois cross the entire slope, from the left to the right, running across the snowfields and grass, pausing again and again, but finally disappearing over the edge on the right. And a little further up still a marmot, vanishing into its burrow when I approached.

Snow and flowers...

Looking back down...

The Gaissstein, which I didn't tackle this time...

Made it! Schusterkogel, 2.207m (Although in all fairness, I only started out at 1.100-1.200ish...)

Moving on...

That's where I'm headed...

Usually I'm too late for Almrausch; this time I was a little early, it only just started to bloom. Right now it must be gorgeous up there, all pink.

View towards Tyrol...

Up the Teufelssprung...

Looking back down...

Hohe Penhab...

Where I came from...

Heading down...

Saying good-bye...

And a last look back...