Day 5 - Up on the Barenbadalm!
We had something of a surprise this morning when, at breakfast, Eleanor announced that she wanted to go up the cable car and do a walk today! Her choice of cable car may have been influenced by the presence of the playground outside the Alpengasthaus Karwendal, but we weren't going to argue. So, after a morning swim (this is becoming routine now), breakfast and a little play with the Lego, we packed up the rucksack, donned our walking boots and set off, through the gloomy wood, past the deserted Alpenhof Hotel, up to the cable car base station. It didn't bode well that Eleanor used up one of her shoulder rides, only 200m from the hotel, but she was walking (sort of) so we made the best of it.
Once atop the Zwolferkopt, the mountain which the Karwendal cable car ascends, we made an unsurprising stop at the playground, before heading up the hill (via the escalator!) and setting off on the path towards the Barenbadalm.
The path was full of interest as, in additional to the usual mountain sights, there we one or two other things to spot along the way.
We made it to the Hutte at the Barenbadalm without incident and only one shoulder ride, and stopped for drinks and some surreptitious picnicking. Breakfasts here are so lavish that you really don't need to eat again until dinner, but Eleanor needs topping up at regular intervals, so I am now in the habit of getting a little take out at breakfast time.
After a rest and a refuel, we were ready to begin the descent to Pertisau. The path contained fewer rubber animals, but was littered with natural interest, including a couple of caves and a few fairly hairy moments where the path became quite narrow, and the drop down the mountain very steep. We had a couple of slips, resulting in one plaster worthy graze, but otherwise got down safely.
Another refuelling stop, at the Rodlhutte, this time on ice lollies and ice cream, equipped us for the last bit of the walk into Pertisau. We made it back to the hotel about 5 minutes before the heavens opened and we were treated to another fierce thunderstorm.
Once atop the Zwolferkopt, the mountain which the Karwendal cable car ascends, we made an unsurprising stop at the playground, before heading up the hill (via the escalator!) and setting off on the path towards the Barenbadalm.
The path was full of interest as, in additional to the usual mountain sights, there we one or two other things to spot along the way.
We made it to the Hutte at the Barenbadalm without incident and only one shoulder ride, and stopped for drinks and some surreptitious picnicking. Breakfasts here are so lavish that you really don't need to eat again until dinner, but Eleanor needs topping up at regular intervals, so I am now in the habit of getting a little take out at breakfast time.
After a rest and a refuel, we were ready to begin the descent to Pertisau. The path contained fewer rubber animals, but was littered with natural interest, including a couple of caves and a few fairly hairy moments where the path became quite narrow, and the drop down the mountain very steep. We had a couple of slips, resulting in one plaster worthy graze, but otherwise got down safely.
Another refuelling stop, at the Rodlhutte, this time on ice lollies and ice cream, equipped us for the last bit of the walk into Pertisau. We made it back to the hotel about 5 minutes before the heavens opened and we were treated to another fierce thunderstorm.
Wow Vicky - that looks absolutely idyllic. And an escalator on a mountain! Happy days. Looking forward to your next blog with eager anticipation. You really are a fab writer. Love to all from Aunty Po xxx
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