Hochhaide - Moserspitz - Diewaldgupf - Seegupf

Again on the way ... see me being happy above 2.000 metres!

This time we hiked from the Rottenmanner Hut up to the Hochhaide (2.363m). Although we didn't make it up onto the apex of the Hochhaide, it was a most beautiful hike.

We took the route from the Rottenmanner Hut (1.650m) to the Singsdorferalm (1.750m) and up onto the Hochhaide through a most beautiful valley with a merry mountain rivulet. It's getting quite steep afterwards, we even had to cross a snowfield.

























The way back to the hut led over three other peaks: Moserspitz (2.230m), Diewaldgupf (2.125m) and Seegupf (2.011m). You could also include a fourth apex, the Stein am Mandl (2.043m) ... but to be honest, we've been too tired :-)

It's been nearly 14kms, and we took our time (approx. 10 hours with many, many breaks *g*).


The Gruener See (Green Lake).







If you are in really (!) good shape you may hike all the way from the Edelrautehuette (1.725m) up to the Grosser Boesenstein (2.448m), the Sonntagskarspitz (2.350m), the Dreistecken (2.382m) to the Hochhaide and beyond.



The way beyond (from the Hochhaide back to the Rottenmanner Hut).






Okay. My shoes lasted really, really long. But now ... I think I'll need a new pair!





The Rottenmanner Hut is surrounded by a spiritual trail, showing the religions of the world with wooden sculptures. Quite a nice & interesting idea. This tree caught my eye, it is a natural sculpture :-)













I think I saw and heard a Corvus corax again, a most fascinating bird, highly intelligent and the biggest songbird. The Corvus corax has been nearly extirpated, just like wolves.

The raven is also a powerful symbol and subject of mythology and folklore, e. g. in Irish mythology the goddess Morrígan sometimes appears in its form, flying over the warriors on the battlefield.

Full Moon Night Walk & Salige Frauen

My daughter and I took a full moon night walk with our digicams yesterday. It was freezing, but beautiful - full moon light is something special for sure.











If you breathe while taking pictures it'll look like you've pictured the "Salige Frauen".










"Salige Frauen" are part of many (etiological) myths here in the alpine region. They are said to be the original inhabitants of the alps and have been there before mankind.

"Salig" means wild, untamed, white, translucent, fairylike (not like in fairy-tales, in a more mystical way).

"Salige" are friendly and helpful women. They protect animals, especially chamois and support considerate gamekeepers, but punish the ones who hunt too many animals.

They will be there to help dairymaids and herdsmen who care for cows, sheep and goats on alpine pastures. But humans need to have a pure heart and show real care and respect for their animals and nature in general. If they do not respect the help and gifts of the "Salige Frauen" the punishment will be thoroughly, even cruel - just like a grim mountain they do not allow or forgive mistakes.

You may never ask their names, because that would mean you've got power over them which they do not accept. Although they are said to marry humans from time to time, they never stay for long because men seldom accept their strict rules.













It's difficult to find links in English because they are mainly known in Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol and Bavaria, but there's quite a good one in German: frauenwissen.at

I grew up with such stories, they were an important part of my childhood and dovetail nicely with being Catholic :-)