We are genuinely sad to leave Kastelruth today. It's been
really lovely having a base for a few days, which has avoided the need to keep
packing up our stuff. There are also so many things to do around here from an
outdoor perspective and just the right amount of amenities (shops, buses and an
ice cream parlour). The Hotel Cavallino d'Oro has been great too - providing us
with super food and free Wifi! The only thing we won't miss are the town's
church bells, which start chiming at 6:00 every morning, every quarter of an
hour until 22:30 and the large group of American cyclists and walkers who seem
to get up at 6:00 then talk noisily in the square just outside our bedroom
window!
We have decided to take option 2 to Compatsch since we
have already been up to Marinzenhutte and as today's walk is a relatively short
one, we take advantage and have an extra thirty minutes in bed, despite the
noises previously mentioned! We also decide that since the first part of the
walk follows the same paths as yesterday almost to Seis, that we will take the
bus to Seis and walk up the route 1, joining the Inntravel walking notes a
little later on. The paths are so good around here that it's quite OK to go off
piste if you so choose.
Today is virtually all uphill and we start by climbing
out of Seis and into the woods. We walk under the cable car that runs from Seis
all the way up to Compatsch and cross over a Tarmac road from time to time,
climbing steadily upwards. We pass a table with a large benches each side and
two thrones at either end. It's beside a beautifully clear pool, full of ice
cold water. Shortly afterwards, path 6 (Inntravel's route) comes in to join
Route 1 and we're back on the notes again.
There's a lovely river by the side of our path and we
follow it up to Bad Ratzes, now a large hotel, but where in the past people
used to take the waters for their curative properties. After the hotel we cross
the Rio Freddo (cold river, which is probably accurate) and follow a forest
track. The walking notes (probably deliberately so as to give a lovely
surprise) don't describe just how beautiful the walk up to the Prossliner Schwaige
Hutte is, but between the views of the Scilar mountain and the endless supply
of waterfalls it's an absolute gem. At 1832 meters it's quite a climb to the
hut, but so rewarding when we reach it and sit with some drinks and a strudel
admiring the view over to the Scilar and down to Seis.
We finally drag ourselves away and push on with the final
125 meter climb to bring us up to 1957 meters above sea level - our high point
for the day. On the high alps at the top, their are 360 degree views of mountains,
with a few pretty wooden chalets and barns dotted about.
We walk into Compatsch - it's not the prettiest of
places, but will provide the perfect base for exploring this area. It's just a
gathering of hotels with the odd shop and cable car and is crawling with day
trippers. We finally find our hotel, after scouring the area, and for €6 per
person per night are offered an upgrade to a room overlooking the mountains and
with a balcony, which we take. Our luggage eventually turns up at 16:30, the
day trippers go home and all is well with the world.
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