25th August 2011

Last year there were so many hikes that I didn't get a chance to do, and the hike today is one such hike. I was reluctant to do it last year because of the difficulties in organising it. The walk starts in one town and finishes in another 18km away. How do we get back? Is there a bus? etc... When I was investigating staying in Kaprun, I found that this hike was on their programme of free guided hikes, so I promptly registered us for the hike. It is called the Pinzgauer Spaziergang, starting from the top station of the Schmittenhohe chair lift and finishing at the Schattberg chairlift about 6 hours later.

                   Overlooking a lower cable car from the Schmittenhohe with the mountains in the background and the valley still completely in cloud

The entire walk was along a high ridge that had views to the mountains across and the valley in between

In the photo above, the Kitzsteinhorn peak can be seen just to the right of centre as the highest mountain. The third mountain from the left of the Kitzsteinhorn, seen in the background, is Austria's highest mountain at 3798m, the Grossglockner.

This is Austria's 5th highest mountain, the Grossvenediger at 3662m

A small wooden barn, many of which are scattered around the hiking trails, specifically for hikers for lunch, shade and shelter from any sudden storms.

One of the many sign-posts for the different hiking trails. Keep in mind that we are not hiking on public land but across someone's farm. This is a step over the farmer's fence line dividing the cow pastures.

Near the end of a long and tiring days hike. But the group we were with was just great that it didn't seem like 6 hours. A shared taxi ride home with some of the group and the guide and a well-earned rest day for tomorrow I think.