Moedlinger Hut (1523m)

Wow! Long time no post. Well, I became kind of Facebook addicted :)

But what is really alarming: I didn't hike for a LONG long time! Here's my last hiking post: Grosser Boesenstein (2008-08)

And yes, it did take effect - some trousers won't fit anymore, ahum.

But today the weather was simply too fine to be true, so I took Sindy and we went for a walk, up to the Moedlinger Hut (1523m).



As my hiking boots "met their maker" (see picture below) I purchased a new pair.



I thought a nice, not too challenging hike would be best to test them (as well as my rotten condition). Unfortunately they do not fit the same perfect way my old pair did :(

I took my time, and many pictures ...



On the way up ... looking at the Admonter Reichenstein.



These flowers are very prominent in some places along the way - turning the landscape into beautiful shades of blue.



Woah. A Vipera berus ... in black. First time I've ever seen this species! It lay on the road, beside Sindy. Thought it was a young Aesculapian Snake first (they are way more common), but the sturdy build and the pitch-black colour made me wary.



And yes, the slit pupil was there - I checked that looking at the picture, didn't want to provoke the snake *g*



A way less dangerous animal ... nice movement ;)



Forest soil with lots of clover :)



Making hay - we call that "Schwedenreiter" or "Heureiter" ... Swedish rider or hay rider.



Up at the Moedlinger Hut - taking a rest and having a delicious meal. I think Sindy enjoyed our spontaneous getaway just as much as I did.



Beautiful view ... Admonter Kalbling, Sparafeld and Admonter Reichenstein. Enjoyed all three vertexes when I was in a much (!) better shape.

On the way down I took my new shoes off and walked bare-footed. Doesn't hurt if you're used to it ;)

Winter Triathlon World Championships

Last weekend I teamed up with some other photographers (being the rookie) and took some pictures of the ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships in Gaishorn, Styria.

As you can see in the picture (thanks to Sabine Forstner, she said I looked like a Ninja *g*) it was VERY cold.

It took me some time to become acquainted with my brand new Nikon D60 and the Sigma lens (70-300mm) - but some of the pics are quite good.

Although it was really icy it was fun, too. Winter Triathlon comprises running, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Personally I would never have guessed how exciting cross-country skiing can be :-)

If you want to have a look at the pictures, please use the quicklinks below. The pic galleries show a assortment of the whole photographer team.

Race Juniors m/w | pic no. 7 shows how much it snowed that day

Race U23 / Elite Women | pic no. 309 is one of my favs

Race U23 / Elite Men | pic no. 33 is one of my favs

Race Age Group | pic no. 35 is one of my favs

Grosser Boesenstein 2.448m

Two weeks ago ... a most beautiful day ... used the opportunity to hike ... just have a look at these pictures (click to enlarge)!


Started from the Edelraute Hut (1.706m).

Such incredible shades of blue & green!




The Scheiblsee








Niedere Tauern
(Lower Tauern, Styria, Austria)

























Nice clouds




















The last part ... climbing :-)











And that's what my shoes looked like afterwards.







A most dignified and thorough termination after > 10 years, multitudinous kms and an impressing difference in altitude. That's Meindl quality! The slogan "Shoes for Actives" is well chosen (although it sounds a little bit Denglisch).


Having fun on the highest apex of the Rottenmanner Tauern.










Luigi did his best on the bumpy way up to the Edelraute Hut :-)

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.

Admonter Kalbling 2.196m & Sparafeld 2.248m

Again on the way ... the weather was perfect, and thankfully not as hot as last Sunday.

Took the classical route from the Oberst Klinke Hut, first onto the Admonter Kalbling (easy to hike & beautiful view), then onto the Sparafeld (a bit more formidable in degree of difficulty and view).


We call such cairns 'Stoamandl' (stone manikin).

There is a memorial tablet attached on top, and it is adorned with coloured flags. Reminds one a little bit of Tibet, doesn't it.





The green rigdes of the Admonter Kalbling (to the left) and the Riffl (to the right) seen from the Sparafeld.





Behind the green ridge of the Riffl you can see the apex of the Kreuzkogel, where I was last Sunday.

This mountain group is really most beautiful, it's such an awesome combination of green and grey. The alpine flora is simply gorgeous.


The Admonter Reichenstein (challenging!) seen from the Sparafeld.






The Sparafeld itself (btw, you can enlarge the pics by clicking on them).





You have to be free from giddiness to enjoy the Sparafeld, otherwise it's not advisable. As I did not hike that much last year, I felt a little bit queasy, especially climbing down ... seems to be a matter of training. But I'm getting fitter, that's good news.

Kreuzkogel 2.011m - Reloaded

Last Sunday I woke up early, the weather was fine, so I decided to hike.

It was my first hike this year and heavens, I'm in bad shape ... had to egg myself on with some music :-)

Here are some pics I took on my way up:





Ant & plant louse symbiosis (ants keep plant louses like cattle, they protect and milk them).






A bumble-bee, having brunch.








This butterfly was difficult to picture. It took me some time to catch it :-)






This is a real snapshot. A chamois can't see very well, I think it heard me, but couldn't get wind of me ;-)





After a steep forest track I arrived on the 'Scheiblegger Hochalm'






That's the ridge of the Kreuzkogel (to the left).







Breathtaking view ... it was such a beautiful day.







The Kreuzkogel summit cross ... although it was quite exhausting to get up there, it was worth every single drop of sweat.