Our next-to-last day in Austria was Monday, 7 September.
Kanisfluh at 7:15 am from our balcony
Like the day before, we had blue skies to begin with, and at a high of 28C/82F it was almost too warm for anything strenuous. But we were going for a hike that would see us cross the 2,000 m threshold, and we rightly expected it to be somewhat cooler up there.
First, though, we had to get to the bottom of the mountain we wanted to climb and took the bus to Schoppernau, only a short-ish bus ride away. Above the village rises Diedamskopf, with its peak at 2,090 m above sea level. One can take the funicular or walk - we decided to walk up and take the funicular down.
Kanisfluh from the other side, just after leaving the last houses of Schoppernau behind on our way up Diedamskopf.
Our trusted booklet gave 3 1/2 hours for that hike, and 3 1/2 hours it were, steadily upwards for 11.5 km, covering a difference in height of 1.272 m - quite the achievement for me, although true alpinists will merely laugh at this.
As soon as we got off the bus I realised that I had not brought my sunglasses, but I knew my eyes would really suffer without any protection. A shop near the funicular sells all sorts of hiking gear, and I found this visor which really did the trick without making my head too warm and sweaty. I didn't mind looking daft - apart from my husband, few people saw me anyway :-D
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| At first we thought this was a chapel, but it was someone's private summer hut and not open. |
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| The peak is in sight, but still quite a bit to go. |
Most of the uphill I found surprisingly easy; the path wasn't too steep, and maybe it also showed that I had been going up and down mountains for a whole week. Only the last 20 % or so of the hike I found VERY hard, but once we were at the top, I soon recovered - how could I not, with such views!
We enjoyed our customary shandy at the outdoor bar by the funicular, took the funicular down to the village and there had an ice cream while waiting for the bus back to Bizau.
On the funicular
You won't be surprised to read that after dinner, we went for another sunset walk around the village :-)
Oh my goodness, my legs would ache and my back be sore if I tried a hike like that! Obviously, you and your husband are in great hiking shape! Those views are really beautiful and I hope it felt cooler up there, Meike!
ReplyDeleteMy back aches when I don‘t walk, not when I do 😊
DeleteIt is very rare that I feel my legs right after a hike or the next day.
Yes, it was cooler up there. We had chosen well.
Kanisfluh. The other side ! Never thought I'd see it. I wonder how often it's climbed ?
ReplyDeleteA shop with sunglasses. We call those shops * A Jenny Aa' Things *. The visor is cool.
Furnicular : I'm only afraid of heights if near the edge. Ski Lifts like helicopters are thrilling.
The lonely residence with steeply pitched roof is the ultimate spiritual retreat house.
Herman Hesse might have written another Magister Ludi there, so close to the stars.
You and O.K. must be as fit as Snow Leopards. Peter Matthiessen wrote the book.
That stone residence and the photos made my night - what colour in second last photo !
Kanisfluh is very popular with hikers. O.K. and I have climbed it 3 years ago, it‘s all on my blog. This year we deciced against it because parts of that hike really were rather hard.
DeleteThe first time we were in this part of Austria, we were staying at a hotel in a village on the other side of Kanisfluh and had that view from our room.
Hermann Hesse lived in the Swiss mountains for a while, if I remember correctly.
The heather mixed with the red leaves on that slope (next to last photo) caught my eye, I had to photograph it.
You and O.K. climbed Kanisfluh ? I'll find your post from three years ago.
DeleteKanisfluh can be a scene in your Mystery Novel. The heroine & her partner climb it.
The residence with the steeply pitched roof will be important too. Who lives there ?
Once you start writing more and more material comes your way. World building.
Carry a Notebook or use Smartphone. The plot constructs itself. Look, listen.
Yes, we did. Look here:
Deletehttps://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/09/austria-kanisfluh-sept-11.html
My husband climbed it alone already back in 2016, a couple of days before I joined him for a short stay in Bregenzerwald.
What stunning views as a reward for your efforts - congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCeci
Thank you, Ceci!
DeleteWhat beautiful views. Like Ellen, I would be exhausted after a quarter of that walk!
ReplyDeleteIt WAS exhausting, but apart from the last part, less so than I expected.
DeleteThose gorgeous views certainly made the effort worth it. I always - perhaps oddly - find walking uphill easier than coming down. It doesn't hurt my knees so much!
ReplyDeleteI find walking uphill more challenging physically, and downhill mentally. My knees don't usually hurt on the way down (or up), but when it is too steep and the terrain too difficult, I just want it to end so that I can walk normally again.
DeleteTruly beautiful! Just wondering, if they sold headgear in that shop, why not sunglasses? And I think the visor looks good on you! If very sunny, I like to wear sunglasses and a hat! I get the sunglasses that fit over my glasses.
ReplyDeleteThey did sell sunglasses, but they were of no use to me - I already have sunglasses, I merely forgot them at the hotel. The lenses are made to fit my eyesight, I can't just wear any "off the shelf" ones.
Delete