Friday, 24 May 2019

Too Much Snow!

The second day of our stay in South Tyrol, May 7, started off sunny just like the day before. We had already decided where to go today; this time, it took us about half an hour to drive to the starting point of the tour.

View from the hotel, just after 9:00
Driving there, we already noticed patches of snow along the road and on the slopes, and more as we drove higher up. We still decided to go on and parked the car where our guide book said to park.

As we hiked upwards and onwards, it became colder and there was even more snow. In some places, there were drifts of snow, and where the sun would not reach, it looked very wintery.











After we reached Lake Tret with Felix's Weir, we only hiked on for a little more before we decided to be reasonable and turn round. On a slightly different route than before, we reached the car safe and sound. It was the first time we broke off a hike, but we really were not equipped to meet more snow than we already had.








Back at the hotel, we were just in time for coffees and the cake buffet - taken on the sunlit terrace! The rest of the afternoon until dinner was spent most pleasantly and leisurely in the spa area.


22 comments:

  1. Another wonderful day's scenes. Those snow pictures actually made me shiver, but the cake photo made up for it!

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    1. The difference between the wintery and remote atmosphere upmthere (with only two other hikers we met along the way) and the almost summery and luxurious feel down in the valley was amazing!

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  2. All sounds lovely - and a wise decision about the snow I think.

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    1. The landscape and views were impressive, and the silence and fresh air felt good. But going further up would have become too wet and too cold.

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  3. I think you made the right decision about the snow - we seem to have only just got clear of winter at last!!!!

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    1. We knew it would not get any better higher up, and did not want to risk wet feet or worse, a fall.

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  4. it was beautiful, but you were smart to return and enjoy an afternoon in the spa area....We are so into spring, here, that I am surprised to see these snow photos.

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    1. Well, there was a difference in height of about 1,000 m between the snowy bits and the bottom of the valley. On top of the highest mountains in the area, the snow never goes away.

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  5. Let's see..hiking in snow or eating cake at a spa. You are so smart! Photos are gorgeous. Love the one of you with red flowers and mountains!

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    1. The good thing was that we had it all that day, the hiking and the cake and the spa!
      Sitting there in the sun with O.K. and a plate of cake was the perfect treat.

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  6. Those places with snow look really, really good right now. It's disgustingly hot here already. I love the flowers and the sweets!

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    1. The snow looked good, yes - but after we sunk in almost to our knees a few times, we decided that was enough snow until December!

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  7. Oh, I do envy you! And you were smart to stop. Around here we have too many people who continue and sometimes pay a terrible price.

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    1. Nan, I often wonder and get angry at tourists who insist they know better than the forecast and the local people, and start on hikes ill-equipped, only to end up having to be rescued by those same locals who put themselves in danger for them.

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  8. Gorgeous photos - and you certainly brighten up the landscape with your smiling photos! The coffee and cakes look yummy and, after all that hiking, one would NOT have to feel guilty really enjoying them!
    Snow, in late May, always seems odd when here it's now in the 90's and miserably hot outside. I'll have to water again today as the poor plants are suffering of course.

    Have a great weekend Meike. We're busy preparing to cross the pond, yet again, to cool and damp Ireland!
    Hugs - Mary

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    1. Thank you, Mary! My weekend has been nice and sunny so far, very good for me after a busy week. By the way, I never feel guilty about cake or chocolate (or any other food or drink for that matter). I only feel guilty about eating meat and other animal products when I think about them, but not guilty enough to stop eating them. Rather schizo, I know...

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  9. It struck me rather more than usual that the scale of the landscape in which you walk is so much more vast than the landscape in which I used to walk. Although the last mountains I climbed were in Scotland with its relatively large landscape they were still small scale by our standards. The landscapes in The English Lake District and Wales are very much more compact. Mind you the longest walk I did in the last week was just over 6 miles in the Edinburgh City Centre.

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    1. That is quite a long route to walk within a city centre, Graham! I know it is way more than 6 km, and you'd be hard pressed to walk so far in my home town's centre.
      As for the scale of this - well, these are among the most Alpine you can get in Europe without getting stuck in the snow.

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  10. Better just look at the snowy mountains from afar... ;)

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  11. What a wonderful adventure you are having! I too am a bit envious.. in a good way...Your sharing stirs up dreams...

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    1. It was a great week, over all too soon. But we have not yet decided on what to do for our next holiday in September...

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