We venture higher in elevation on another blue sky day to enjoy this view of the Dolomites!We took a bus from Lajen to Ortisei, then we took a gondola and the Seceda cable car.Many people are enjoying this beautiful day. This is the Val Gardena valley, is part of the UNESCO world heritage site.The incredible view point at the summit shows all the alpine peaks we can see in the 360 degrees. It is a clear enough day that we could see Grossglockner in Austria as well as some of the tallest Swiss Alps.We shared photo taking before starting out on the Seceda Rim Hike.The rugged Seceda Geisler Gruppe – so picturesque with the snow.There was a bite to the wind but it made for some very photogenic opportunities.We drop into the valley from the top and there is less snow on the trail.Baita Troier Hütte: this Mountain hut is our lunch destination.It is situated in the National Park Puez Odles at an altitude of 2250 meters and it has a wonderful view to the surrounding Dolomites.A fabulous location to look over the valley and enjoy some Italian spirits.Lunch of fried potatoes, Tyrolean bacon, with fried eggs – very satisfying mountain hiking food!Well signed hiking routes to get us back to the cable car. Signs are labeled in minutes not distance. The next sign generally has the same time to the destination which we found very amusing.Maybe we should take another break at the Daniel Hütte?An incredible day visiting Seceda – a special place in the Alps!
We have driven the Grossglockner Alpine Road to the Edelweisspitz Overlook. Take My Breath Away! The view! But the road will make your heart beat also as you can see…The far barely visible peak is the highest Grossglockner – which we are seeing now from the east. What clear visibility!The Edelweisspitz Overlook has a 360 degree view. We could even see the Berchtesgaden peaks – we are only about 40 km from where we first stayed in Anger, Germany.This is a compiled panorama photo of Hohe Tauern NP Grossglockner Peak from the Alpine Road Edelweisspitz Overlook. What a VIEW!The Edelweiss Hütte had a very good apple strudel which we enjoyed with cappuccinos. Because who would not want to linger to enjoy this view? We feel like eagles, not marmots, but thought this carving was quite cute.Another stop along the Alpine Road is Kaiser Franz Josefs Visitor Center with this view of the Pasterze Glacier, the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps, which has melted in the last 20 years to leave this lake.Grossglockner peak is reflected in the lake, before the clouds claim it again.Enjoying the view with Kaiser Franz Josef, who was here with his wife Elizabeth (Sisi) in 1856. He loved this area and as it is when you are emperor, it was preserved for all of us to enjoy. Thank – you, Austria!
We headed up the nearby valley to Kals/Berg for a full day of hiking in the Hohe-Tauern-National Park.We are going to hike the Kodnitztal towards Grossglockner – that magnificent peak in the background, which is the highest in Austria- 3.798 meters.There is fresh snow on the peaks! It is so beautiful and we feel so lucky to be enjoying such fabulous views!The clouds are moving in so this might be our last view of Grossglockner – but we are sure there is much to enjoy here.These are the big five wildlife that live here – maybe we will be lucky to see some natives: golden eagle, chamois, marmot, ibex, bearded vulture.After a little over an hour hike up and up, we arrive at Lucknerhütte. Cappuccinos and apple strudels with vanilla sauce were enjoyed by us on this outdoor deck. We could get used to this kind of hiking amenity.We continued further up the trail to enjoy the autumn splendor.We crossed the stream several times.We saw quite a few marmots, busily eating to prepare for winter. They are very fast, a bit shy, and scurry amongst the boulders. But this one was so busy eating he could not be bothered with a photographer.The geography and rock outcroppings were really accentuated with the early snowfall.We especially enjoyed this rock face that kept us company.Would you look at that?!!!!This is a view back at the valley and the 3,050 foot elevation we have gained hiking up. Wow. Very glad we still have it in us to do this hike!The mountains and clouds have played hide and seek but we end our 5 hour, six+ mile hike with full satisfaction. An immensely enjoyable day.We have good memories of visiting Grossglockner! FABULOUS!!!
Our mountain view apartment in Matrei was very spacious, had nice views of the town in the Isel river valley, including from our balcony.We enjoyed walking the town and visiting the Hohe Tauern National Park museum.One of the walks we did on our no-drive day was above the apartment to enjoy the entire valley of Matrei.The Isel is the longest free flowing glacial river in the entire Alps!Upstream we walked into Hohe Tauern NP to hike the NaturKraftWeg Umbalfälle .The hiking path follows this exuberant water to the glacial source but we only followed it for an hour or so from the end of the road.This is a tributary with a nice bridge near the confluence with the Isel.We enjoyed the wildness of the river, the carved rocks, and the vegetation. This is the Umbalfälle, the Umbal falls.And what do you know – there is a hütte with some hot soup for us! Goulash stew and Tyrolean Knodel Soup, which is a bread dumpling ball of goodness.
Triglav National Park is the only national park in Slovenia. It is one of Europe’s oldest parks, with the first protection dating back to 1924.It is named after Triglav, which rises the highest (2864 m) in the heart of the park and is also Slovenia’s highest peak.We are thrilled to have such a beautiful day to explore this eastern part of the Julian Alps!There are 50 numbered turns – 26 up and 24 down…depending on which direction your traveling.On our way up we stopped at this Russian War Memorial, remembering those that died here in WWI.A few more turns, we found a place for cappuccino and pastry with an incredible view! Life is good……View in the other direction. Spectacular.At the summit of Vršič Pass, elevation of 5,285 ft – a mile high!We did a short hike to get up to this incredible view point.360 degrees of rock. The Alps were formed by the African Tectonic Plate crashing into the Eurasian, dramatically uplifting, then carved by glaciers.After a visit to the very interesting Alpine Botanic Gardens, the informative National Park Visitor Museum, we reached the mesmerizing emerald green waters of Soča River.Teal Water! For those Ernest Hemingway fans, this is where he was driving the ambulance during WWI, and written about in his “Farewell to Arms”. In case you want to read more of the gruesome WWI battle of the area.This area is peaceful and tranquil now. We enjoyed our day exploring.
Prehistoric Pile Dwellings were found along Mondesee (on our drive between Salzburg and Vienna) as well as in many other locations around the Alps – a combined UNESCO World Heritage Site.This culture dates from 5000 to 500 BC.Well preserved pottery that reminded us of Mesa Verde – only this is much much older! We enjoyed our stop at Mondesee MuseumThis exhibit show how they document these archeology sites. The dwellings were built along lake shores but most are under water now, which has preserved the remains well.A video hows how difficult the documentation is. Thank you to all that are working to preserve this ancient culture. If you want to find out more, check out palafittes.org
Berchtesgaden is Germany’s only Alpine National Park.We wandered along the shores of Lake Königssee.A perfect day to enjoy the calm waters and watch the boats cruise by.They played the bugle to hear the echos off the walls – that was the only interruption to the solitude.A great place to take a break and soak your feet.There was always the luge option…Or the BBQ option back at the apartment! We are enjoying all of the amenities 😉
WOW! Impressive: Lago Pohoe in Torres del Paine National ParkWe hiked a mile up to get fabulous views and enjoy a leisurely lunch. No condors……but saw this interesting falcon; a crested Caracara (Caracara plancus).The reflections were magnificent at this unnamed pond further east!Lago Azul…enjoyed a fresh brewed cup of coffee here with this view of the Torres.Zoom detail of the Torres del Paine. The oldest rock is on top as magma has pushed it up.Gorgeous. Zoom detail of the glacier on top the Paine Grande, at the end of summer.The waterfall on the Paine River was wonderful to experience with the early morning light.The twisty roads in the park are well maintained gravel. We are ready to explore!It was not as crowded as we expected–we enjoyed chatting with fellow travelers from around the world. Notice the Salto Grande waterfall on the left……Yesterday we hiked there and it was a tad bit windier.We followed the channel to the lake Nordenskjold and the clouds played peek-a-boo on the mountain peaks.We are prepared for 4 seasons in one day but it stays dry!The wind is in the “safe to hike” zone of less than 50kmh. Ranger told us the trail was closed yesterday–because of high winds–so we are feeling very lucky to be here today.The sun is teasing us but it is still pleasant enough to enjoy a picnic lunch with this view, at Mirador Cuernos.We were thrilled to explore Torres del Paine NP on 2 different days as each was special.
