Meraner Höhenweg,

We started our drive down to South Tyrol early in the morning in Innsbruck. A traffic jam on the Brenner Autobahn, the drive over the 6000-foot-high Jaufenpass with narrow roads, and the drive up to the starting point of our hike was challenging.

We started around noon. In the beginning, the sky looked dark and dreary.

At the Ulfaseralm we stopped for coffee.

When the sun came out, Colleen was putting sun lotion on Robert’s face.

The path went along the steep slopes of the Texel Mountains. For several hours we followed the Waalweg or Aquarale (water way). In former times, the alpine farmers watered their steep, sunny side slopes by building water canals down the mountains. It was a very dangerous work. Now, water hoses funnel down the water to irrigate the meadows.

After that, the path changed to a very steep way through woods and meadows down towards the valley.

Wild thyme, meadow sage, sorrel, wild strawberries and many more eatable plants were growing along the path. We tasted them all.

Chestnut trees were growing on the lower parts. Powerful creeks with melting snow water rushed down the steep mountain.

We passed picturesque alpine houses and wayside shrines.

At 7pm we arrived in the Magdeburg Gasthaus. Sheep, goats, a pony, ducks, and two pigs roamed around a fenced in an area beside the guest garden. Little kids brought baby goats and a sheep on a liege into this area.