Take a hat

From Angertal to the Schlossalm via the high alpine pastures  Looking back to Anger Sitting on the ski lift in Winter I often look up the valley to a high area where there is no skiing and the only signs of human visitation are the mostly snow-buried huts on the hillside. These are the Gadauner Hochalmen. Have always wanted to go up there and today is the day. Felding Hutte Took the 09:45 bus to Angertal today so started the walk at 10 am. Headed uphill towards the Gadauner Hochalmen. The path starts just past the winter ski beginners’ area. I headed uphill on a steep path that forms part of the Salzburger Almweg. Not long before the tree-line the path hit a farm road switch-backing its way up the mountain. Once clear of the trees the valley end appeared, a huge sweep of alpine pastures backed by steep rocky mountains. The Gadauner Hochalmen were scattered around at 1800m offering a choice of stopping points. It was still only 11:30, before the beering hour, so resiste

Where the Heidelbeeren grow Walking down from the top of the Stubnerkogel today the cloud fell from the sky. Fortunately an Alm loomed up in the mist. I walked once around the Jungeralm, the dog barked and the door opened, was I coming in?  Ja, - Gruss Gott! The Summer Jungeralm I entered; inside was full, hot and steamy. There was one big table, four wet children sat with their mums waiting for a hot drink. They looked and spoke like locals. An old chap proffered a schnapps and I ordered a beer. The dog sniffed around. I nursed my beer and listened in to the conversation. Or perhaps listened out would be more accurate as I understood very little. Sometime later, and much dryer, I asked the old boy, is it getting better? ‘geht es besser’ ( in my dodgy German). ' Nein, es geht schlecter’ was the reply which did not sound good at all. Well, I suppose I could have had another beer, or perhaps phoned home and said the weather was too bad to continue? 'I am stuc

Walking on the Schlossalm Stream below Brandner Hochalm Fundner-Heimalm Neudegg-Heimalm On the route I would not like to give the impression that my walks are Austrian pub crawls but... A walk from the middle-station on the Schlossalm to the top station gives plenty of options for refreshments on the way. Kitzsteinalm, Aeroplan, Fundner, Neudegg, Brandner Hochalm, Kleine Scharte restaurant are all possible options. The half-way house is the Brandner Hochalm. This walk up takes about 3 hours, that's if you don't make too many stops! By the way, the pine nuts of the Zirben pine are used to make a lovely schnapps Its often difficult to determine ski run routing in summer but this pic. shows my favourite run H1. It passes to the left of the little Zirben pine in the centre.  Aeroplan just above the middle station. Also open in winter, its clearly much more elaborate than the huts we usually use in summer, strudel is recommended though.

Gruss Goat - who's looking at you kid! The traditional greeting in this part of the world is Gruss Gott. The reply is also Gruss Gott which makes things pretty straight-forward. This little goat at the Brandner Hochalm took an interest in my beer.

The Grey Mountain - Graukogel in Summer Looking North from the chairlift Towering above Bad Gastein is the Graukogel (2492m). In winter it's a quiet ski area, a short bus ride from the centre of town. In summer it becomes a lovely unspoilt area for walking. A couple of chairlifts take you up to 1956m in 30 minutes. There are the obligatory huts for refreshments at the mid-station and at the top. Once up there you can sit on the new terrace or embark on a walk. A short climb, of about 40 mins., to the Huttenkogel earns tremendous views over the surrounding valleys. It was lovely and cool up there. On my way down the lad in the pic. below, with the football shirt, scampered past me like a mountain goat. A bit further down though I caught him up. Cows on the trail!  He and his family had met a stubborn animal on a narrow path the day before. He was now, understandably, a bit wary of the big brown and white horned beasts. So he waited for me and we passed without a problem.

Sitting on top of the world High on the Schlossalm We have summer season tickets for the ski lifts so we are up in the mountains at every opportunity. A summer lift pass costs us 75 Euros which is pretty fair value when you consider a day return can cost around 20 Euros. One member of the party does not always take the walking too seriously! Particularly now that she has found these rockers. No, not this Austrian Jazz ensemble but a very comfy wooden seat. There are a wide selection of circular walks up here, some flat,  but others are knee-tremblers. Jazz on the hill TW's idea of a day in the mountains Middle Station on the Schlossalm

Chapel view of the High Tauern Many Alpine resorts allow cyclists to take their bikes up on the ski lifts in summer and let the cyclists crash down the hills at breakneck speed. This can be a bit of a worry if you are out for a leisurely walk in the mountains. A Lycra clad missile bearing down on you on a narrow track can be a tad disconcerting if you are out sniffing the enzian. Happily, in Gastein, you have to earn the right to cycle down by pedalling up. Most cycle tracks also end up at a very nice alm. Talk to the cows on the way up My ride today only reached as far as a chapel before I hit the cloud ceiling and I turned around shortly afterwards. Didnt fancy cycling in a thunderstorm. St Hubertus Chapel - Open plan If you cycle up a long hill through alpine pastures and past farms on a road behind Bad Hofgastein Railway Station you come to the Chapel of St. Hubertus. He is the patron saint of hunters. Hunting is popular over here and this is a modern open-plan c