Meraner Höhenweg, Day 3,4

We left Gasthof Talbauer around 9 am and started our hike along the steep slope of the mountain. Soon the path became a narrow walk cut out of pure rock of the Mutspitze. On this lookout point, we are about 1000 meter above Meran.

Thick layers of moss blanketed rocks and ground, where rests of ice and snow were still visible in the crevices.

We walked from one alpine meadow (Alm) to the next. Gentian were blooming at the side.

At 1839 meter at the Hochgang, we stopped for a picnic. The horses on the Alm  also walked around the tables in the guest garden.

Sometimes past avalanches blocked the way. We balanced on rocks and fields of melting snow.

On the Giggleberg, a strong thunderstorm was surprising us. For two hours we walked in the rain. The path was leading again over gullies, up and down the slope. One gully is called the 1000 stairs gully – not so easy to walk in at the end of the day.

However, we were rewarded by staying overnight in the 700 year old Pirchhof. Medieval wooden buildings surrounded the now modern, but traditionally built restaurant. Our room was in the “Stube” of the old farmhouse, a wooden panelled living room with a “Kachelofen” (traditional stove) and painted ceilings. The home made food was delicious.

The next day we hiked down into the Schnalstal, where the over 5000 year old mummy Ötzi was found. From the village of Katharinenberg, we took a public bus and later train to Meran and from there we went by bus and by taxi back to our car.