Austria - Walking in October - Getting ready to hibernate

Winter on its way in October

Marmot getting some late sun before the winter sets in

There is a definite reddish hue to the vegetation at this time of year. Lots of the locals are out picking berries, including our furry friends. These marmots can be pretty elusive and often the first sign of them is a high pitched squeal of warning to the family that a two legged monster is approaching. Amazing that they hide under the snow during the winter, even crazier that we ski over the top. The cows have been driven down to the valley so the Alms are closing. I was offered the opportunity to help one Farmer to drive his cows down, should have taken it!

Today we took the lift up to the Kleine Scharte and then walked over to the top of the Kaserebenbahn lift before walking down to the Baerstein Restaurant for a spot of lunch. It was perfect weather for walking.

H4 on the Schlossalm waiting for snow. The Haitzingalm is on the left

They were assembling some new avalanche catchers near the Haitzingalm, it will be interesting to see where they install them.

Approaching the Barstein, ready for a dustbuster

The top lake on the Schlossalm is fully loaded ready to feed the snow cannons

TW out for a stroll at the end of summer

Photo bombed by Marina

TW just loved the old Haitzingalm chairlift. As a memento they have put one of the chairs at the middle station. Certainly a comfortable spot to sit but sadly ''it ain't going nowhere!''

Autumnal Views

Autumn in Gastein

Make sure you wrap up warm on the ride up to Annen Cafe

Playing a round on the golf course - a last hurrah before being sent to a barn for the winter.

Back home - almost time to clear out the window boxes ready to collect snow!