Far over the misty mountains

[selenak]

This year, the APs and self won't be able to make our annual late September trip to Southern Tyrolia - I'll be in Los Angeles at a conference -, and thus we moved it to July. One thing I can tell you: it's going to be September again ever after! Because the heatwave currently haunting my part of the world doesn't stop here, oh no. Which means you have to do your hiking above 2000 metres for the temperatures to be remotely bearable. Up the mountains I went these last two days and will for the remaining week. Here's some pictorial plunder:







Running from the heat, we started with the Meran 2000 path, which we hadn't done before, though we once hiked a little below it. As the name says, it's ca. 2000 metres above Meran.




And as Halfling is ca. 300 metres downwards, you encounter the Halflingers, i.e. the horses the area is famous for, here as well. I don't ride, but I'm not made of stone:











There were other encounters. Pinnochio, escaped from Storybrooke?



Looking back from the Meran 2000 path. In the far distance, somewhere in the dusk, you can actually spot Meran:




Standing at the Jungsteiner Joch, looking across to the Hirzer (on the left side - I've only been on the Hirzer itself, but never on the other side of the relevant valley):



In winter, this is also a very popular skiing area. This is where they get the material for the snow canons, should nature not suffice:





Valley in the shadow of the Mittager:



Another day, another freakish 38° at Tirol the village, and thus it was mountain time once more. This time we went up to ominously called Hochmuth (= "Arrogance", Hubris, good old Superbia). Looking back through the Spronser valley in the vague direction of Meran:



The big attraction once you've hiked up all those 2131 metres are the lakes high in the mountains, the Spronser Lakes. This one is the Pitscher lake.



The Kaser lake, another of the Spronser lakes, from different sides:








And then I had to walk 1700 of these 2131 metres back down again. On a steep and narrow path full of uneven stones. Starting here. Oy.



Suffice it to say I'm currently a bit more vivid than a wrung out towel, but barely. Off to try and catch up with the online world before I capitulate to sleep...

Comments

[ratcreature]

Pretty! But 38° is inhumane. I am so glad the awful heat lasted only a few days here in the North. Now it's a pleasant 24° which for me is the right temperature to still enjoy sunny weather.

[selenak]

Quite, which is why we go uuuuup where a similar temperature can be found.😉

[genarti]

Oh, wow! What utterly gorgeous pictures of what's clearly an utterly gorgeous area.

[selenak]

I love sharing the beauty.

[wendelah1]

How beautiful it is! But that sounds uncomfortably warm to be hiking in.

[selenak]

Not if you go high enough, which we did. But below 2000 m it's sweltering!