Last night was our final night at Gasthof Zirmenhof, but
we are told to just leave the luggage in our room & to enjoy a leisurely
breakfast, so that's just what we do. After breakfast we check out & pick
up our packed lunches - delicious rolls, fruit & a yoghurt.
The walking notes suggest an early start so that we can
fit in another walk when we reach Aldein - today's destination, but Alistair
& I don't do early starts when we are on holiday, so leave the hotel at
9:30am. It's quite windy when we set out and I need a jacket on, but as usual
Alistair is wearing shorts & a short sleeved t-shirt!
We set off into a different forest from yesterday's, but
it is similar in that it has wide clear tracks and the trees are set far apart
to let light in. We debate why British pine woods can't be more like this. We
spot a nearly black red squirrel in the forest, which darts up the nearest pine
tree as we approach. After about 45 minutes we leave the forest & start the
descent into the Bletterbach Canyon.
This is the same canyon we looked down upon from the
viewpoint yesterday. Up close & personal, the canyon is very spectacular,
but the whole thing looks in a constant state of flux and there are signs of
recent avalanches. We descend very carefully, not trusting any of the wooden or
wire handrails. On our way down we pass a board forbidding hikers to walk in the
canyon in the rain or thunderstorms because of the danger from falling rocks.
It's very humid (my jacket is off) and the paths are slippery from rain a few
days ago, but everything looks OK today. We carry on descending until we reach
the canyon floor and the Taubenleck - the fast flowing, tiny stream at the
bottom of the canyon.
The canyon looked wonderful yesterday, but today we view
it from a totally different perspective. If you like geology then this is the
place for you, as it's easy to see the different strata of rocks (porphyry,
sandstone, dolomitic limestone along with clay & marl). We walk along the
bottom of the canyon with its 400 metre cliffs towering above us and feel both
awe & wonder. Finally we start to climb out of the canyon on the Jagersteig
- a new path. The "new" path doesn't look like it'll be there for
long. At one point we see just how little is holding it up and despite being
quite breathless (the climb out is very steep) we hurry along. Views of the
Weisshorn & the waterfall Butterloch open up as we arrive at the top - to a
piece of rope across the path! It appears the path we have just climbed up is
closed. In Italian is a word that can easily be translated as perilous! Whether
today or in general we do not know, as we cannot understand enough of the
German or Italian, pity there wasn't such a sign at the other end! Anyway we're
both safe and sound.
As we leave the Visitor Centre fat drops of rain start to
fall - what impeccable timing! If it had started raining any sooner, we
definitely wouldn't have been able to experience the walk through the canyon.
My jacket goes on again.
The rest of the walk goes through woodland, then passes
by some truly beautiful meadows. The rain has eased off, so we eat part of our
picnic. As we set off the rain starts again, ( jacket back on) but it's just a
heavy shower and stops before we reach Aldein. Despite not setting off early,
it's only 13:40, so we decide to do the additional walk. Unfortunately I've
only got the first page of the notes with me & our luggage hasn't arrived
at the Hotel Krone yet, but there's enough of a description for us to improvise
and we take a very nice walk to the Gollersee, a tranquil little lake in the
middle of a forest. By the time we return to the hotel our luggage has arrived
and we can freshen up before dinner.
The hotel started being used as a guesthouse in 1577 and
is situated in a pretty village square. The only thing I have against it is
that this is a mountain village and it's at the very top! Otherwise the large,
attractive room with its traditional furnishings is lovely and I think we're
going to enjoy our evening here, as it's another place that specialises in
local, traditional cuisine.
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