Der Lustige Wanderschuh

Montag, 4. Mai 2009

Hiking tour to Prigglitz, 25 April 2009

To follow a link, click on the words in italics!

On Saturday, 25 April, our hiking group made a trip to the litte village of Prigglitz, about 90 km south of Vienna (56 miles).

Our destination is Waldburgangerhütte,
about 1.100 m (3.600 feet) above sea level.

We start at 600 m (2.000 feet) on a broad hiking trail,

with beautiful views over the sourrounding mountains.

Suddenly we've lost our track
(that's nothing new with us :)))

Despite a detailed consultation of our maps
we have to walk up to the peak directly, cross-country, direttissimo,

(as usual, hehe :)))

and finally reach a mountain pasture
with a view over the snow covered mountain Rax.

We walk on and see that the grass is still brown,
the snow has melted not long before.

In the distance we see Hirschenkogel and Stuhleck, Vienna's nearest skiing area.
The region here is called Semmering,
a traditional Viennese "Sommerfrische" retreat.
Here wealthy Viennese families spent their summers once,
and it's popular still today.

A sudden thrill:

Who left those footprints in the snow?

Too big for a dog!

Maybe the legendary Ötscher Bea r?

We walk on, enjoy the woods, the flowers and the warm sun!

heading for the next mountain hut.

Primeln,

Enzian

and

Seidelbast which is rather rare!

It's pleasant to walk through the woods,

and soon we reach Pottschacherhütte.

Here we take a rest, the food is delicious
(Schweinsbraten mit Sauerkraut und Knödel)

and everybody is cheerful!

Country-style hut, wood carvings, sunshine,

and a phantastic panorama!

Heading for Prigglitz again,

we come across a very interesting manor, Gut Gasteil,
which is run by artists.

Sculptures in the meadows lead us to the house,

where we learn the story of the manor.

Soon the shadows get longer, and we return to Vienna.

Samstag, 3. Januar 2009

Silvesterwanderung 2008 Kaiserkogel

On the last day of the Old Year, our hiking group made a trip along the
Traisentaler Rundwanderweg
starting at the village Eschenau and walking up "Kaiserkogel",
a hill 716 m above sea level, 70 miles west of Vienna.

The region is called "Mostviertel" (due to the must made ofthe region's apples and pears)
and it is a part of the Austrian Pre-Alps.

Please click on the pictures for a larger view!

Fascinating sings:
In Austria, you won't get lost easily...
Paths are well labelled.
Saves you from getting lost in Austria! :)

So much beauty!

Special thanks to Erwin for planning our tours for so long!

More info about the Mostviertel here!

Montag, 1. September 2008

Rax Alpe 24 August 2008

This is our hiking and climbing tour at the mountain Rax Alpe
about 90 km southwest of Vienna, Austria.

Rax Alpe is 2.007 meters above sea level.
We start at Preiner Gschaid at 1.070 meters.

Today we will walk the Reistalersteig with its really superb climbing passages.

If you draw a diagonal line through the picture, beginning down in the right corner, going up to the left corner, this is our tour. It starts at Preiner Gschaid, crosses the cliffs in the middle, and ends at the peak, Heukuppe (2.007 m).

Click to enlarge all pictures!

So lets get started!

A first view of the cliffs, called Raxmäuer.

I am always behind, always taking photos.
That's why they call me "Mary Kisch the Racing Photographer"
named after the famous Czech journalist "Egon Erwin Kisch, der rasende Reporter"
(link to wikipedia)
who travelled the world in the first half of the last century.
Oh, what an honour for little insignificant ME :)
I think they love me!

Here you can see the Raxmäuer in all their beauty!

And here we begin to climb.

Oh yeah!

A little hole in the rocks, and the little plant has a place to grow.
Erwin and Lisi always show you the rarest things!

This and the following pictures I love best!

Tiny bluebells and an Edelweiß

Here we get a first glimpse of the peak, Heukuppe, 2.007 meters

The fog rolls in and the wind dishevels us.

Up to the top, gloves would be fine.

This is the peak, Heukuppe, 2.007 meters above sea level.
It's really cold here, but we feel great!

BERGMANN'S HEIL!

Down again, the fog follows us. Looks threatening, I know.

This is a little chapel on the edge of the cliffs. "Raxkircherl".
Also devoured by the clouds!

Below our shelter, Karl Ludwig Haus.

Inside Karl Ludwig Haus. Good food!

This green flatfish is a relief of Rax Alpe :)
We climbed up in the middle of front line.

The white rocks over there are the famous climbing rocks, Preiner Wand, with the one and only fantastic Haid-Steig where you need real climbing equipment like helmets etc.
It's real steep!

We walk down a very pleasant trail called Schlangenweg because of its many serpentines.

Soon we reach meadows with cows and alpine flowers like thistels and larkspur. Romantic!

One look back to where we come from - it was such a great tour again!

This is my outfit. During all that walking and climbing and having fun with the camera I had not noticed that I am allowing certain insights...

The last 500 meters ...

and we arrive at our parking place ...

with its neat road house.

Many thanks to our guide Friedl who is the great soul behind our hiking tours and our group.
Thank you so much, dear Friedl!

Thanks for joining!
So long!

Dienstag, 19. August 2008

Reisalpe 26. Juli 2008

Anfahrt: Rainfeld - Ebenwald
Wanderung: Ebenwaldhöhe - Sennerin - Reisalm (1399) - Brennalm - Ebenwaldhöhe

Samstag, 19. April 2008

Wanderung Dreiländereck

Samstag, 29.3.2008

Die Anreise:
Wien - Südautobahn bis Pinkafeld Nord - Willersdorf
Die Route:
Willersdorf - Willersdorfer Schlucht - Dreiländereck - Schmiedrait - Aschau - Willersdorf
ca. 5 Stunden