Graukogel - A sunny Sunday in Gastein

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. He was a bit of a chatter-box and by the time we reached the lift station I knew his football team, the reason why his father had sore foot (he kicked a door) and where they had walked on their holiday etc.etc. What was very apparent though was that he loved the mountains and enjoyed wandering up and down the paths with his family, that's as long as the cows remained friendly and the edges were not too steep
'We come every year from Germany and stay in the same hotel because we love it!' I wonder if he'll become a grumpy teenager soon? Spoke to his dad a bit later on and told him his son spoke good English. He did look a little embarrassed when I told him I'd heard all about his foot injury. Didn't ask him how the door was!

Reedsee in the distance among the trees

Looking South - the route down