The view as we rounded the hill

Headlines for today - “Just when you think you’ve seen it all”   OR “Dave! now that’s far enough”

The start of the walking path to Walderalm

For our final day in Austria and on our way to Germany for the last few days, we looked up the small Alpine village of Gnadenwald,  Austria.  It is only an hour west of our last stay in Kramsach.

The city of Innsbruck far below

Actually we had information of a farm  “where 70 cows share their meadow with the clouds”  up there that you must walk on up to.  We found the town and only an information board for a TI so asked a young man walking his dog close by. 

Had to throw a snow ball or two

He directed us over to the map and showed us 2 ways of getting up there.  One was to walk the path up from Gnadenwald which he said would take about 2 hours or the other way was to drive up most of the way by another route as far as you can go then walk the last 20 minutes. 

We chose the  latter mainly because over here if they say it takes an hour you may as well “double it and add 30” - a little bit like conversion from miles to kilometers.

Some of the locals people enjoying the sun

We found the “road” pointing up there - a paved one laner - that twisted and turned for 6.5 km. while climbing steadily skyward.  Wouldn’t have been too bad but I had to drive on the opposite side of the road half the time so Jean wouldn’t yell at me for getting too close to the edge.  As it was,  at one point - hence the words in the headlines, we arrived at the Parkplatz  and what a view even from there and we were not even “there” yet. 

Some kind of Noodle soup - very tasty but couldn't find the noodle.

After loading our backpacks on we headed around the corner and down a bit then on up higher on the gravel trail.  Low and behold we hear a truck and soon he appears around the corner - a empty semi-tractor-trailer log-hauler on his way down. 

Many trails led up there from all directions

Could not believe it - the trail was barely wide enough for a car to navigate.  He had obviously done that before - must have made a wrong turn somewhere ’cause there was no logging that we saw.  The color of the leaves and the blue sky and the snow-capped mountains and the city of Innsbruck below were truly a breathtaking picture. 

The views were fantastic - even pics cannot do justice

Up over the last ridge and there appears a cluster of farm buildings on the high plateau like we have not seen before.  Carlos would say “Oh my laws”.  Again I say “truly a picture to behold”  

A para-glide jump off ramp

At the main farm house they were serving coffee but it was their good soup that was recommended to us.  Jean ordered Speckknoebelssuppe mit 2 knoedel  and  Dave ordered Nudelsuppe mit Wuerstel.  We split them half and half to try each - very tasty.  There was a constant stream of serious hikers coming and going from every part of that alp.  Many were drying their clothes in the warm sun on the shrubs and bushes.  Obviously they had taken the other route up there.  We sat and marveled at the views from up there - truly we are blessed to be able to be here at our age and stage.
The Germans have a greeting that applies “Gruss Gott” = “God is good”

"Gruss Gott"