Ray & Jenny in Austria & Switzerland: 27th August 2010

We again joined the guided hike and had some excitement on the bus with some cranky Italians. Our shoes are inspected each time we get on the bus and if you don't have proper hiking shoes you have to borrow them from the Hiking Club. One of the guides was Hilda and she lead one of the easier hikes on another day where we did the harder one. She was trying to tell these Italians that they had to get hiking shoes and they were telling her that they didn't. They even told her she didn't know what she was talking about. After about 15 minutes of arguing, Hilda just shrugged her shoulders and told the bus driver to get going. We didn't know what was being said because it was in Italian, but we got the gist of it. So off we went up into the Stubaital Valley. The bus stopped and she called for all those who were going to do the harder hike into the mountains. Of course the Italians stood up but she would not let them off the bus. Our guide and those going into the mountains got off and the doors closed and the bus drove away. Not sure what happened after that. But we did the hike without those Italians, thank God.

We met some Australians from Melbourne yesterday. 3 are doing a trip together, one of them from Austria but has Australian Citizenship. The other couple are just coincidentally staying at the same hotel. All very nice and we did a lot of the walk today with them. Nice to talk to someone who speaks good english. That is one of the things that we miss over here. Being able to talk to someone else. Some know a little english, but mostly, especially the older ones, speak only German. Even the guides speak mostly German. Can be a little worrying when you don't really know where you are going each hike or how difficult it is going to be. But there is usually someone on the bus that speaks enough english to let us know what is happening. And there have been quite a few couples that have done each hike with us.

And, I must say, what a fantastic hike! About the most enjoyable we have done so far this trip. Our guide's name was Heinz, but a different Heinz from our previous hikes. He was great. He did not push the pace, but took it steady with lots of stops where necessary, so time to enjoy the surroundings and take some piccies. The day started out cloudy with a storm forecast later in the day with possible snow in the mountains. So we were loaded up with warm jackets and our waterproofs. We started on a very steep uphill climb through the forest on a trail called 'Neustifter Besinnungsweg im Pinnistal'. The town nearby is Neustift and the end point of the hike was Pinnisalm and Besinnungsweg means 'a walk of the senses'. So that is the meaning of the title. There were lots of carved wooden features along the trail with poignant sayings. Hence the trail title.

After we came out of the forest, we were met with an incredible sight, and were left in no doubt that we were definetely in the mountains. We walked over many types of trail, water crossings, scree slopes, fixed cables, cow paddocks and forest road. The variety for me makes it more enjoyable. It took us 3.5 hours to reach our destination, the Pinnisalm, just as the rain started and the clouds came rolling in. Thank goodness we had the 3.5 hours in good light if not exactly full sunshine. While we had lunch at the Pinnisalm, it poured rain and we were all envisaging doing the return hike in the rain. But it stopped, and we had an enjoyable hike back to the start. Our total hiking time was 5.5 hours and we were pleased to get back to the bus. Our last half hour was discussing having to get back on the bus with the Italians. But when we got to the bus, it was empty. So it was just our group that went back together.

Now, you have to admit this free guided hiking is just brilliant. Yesterday, the bus trip took us 1.5 hours to get to the start of the hike, today it only took about 45 minutes. And the bus is waiting for us at the finish of each hike, even when we finish in different locations than where we started. Imagine what each hike would cost if you were paying. On the way home,someone usually brings around the hat and we put in some money for the guide.

Here are some photos that I hope you enjoy, but nothing can come close to experiencing the real thing.