We had a corner room, small, but looking out to the steep mountains all around us. We were ready for some sleep after the overnight flight and caught up with Michael and Ulrike Korn after a sleep. They had driven down from Leipzig, about 5-6 hours, and were staying in a flat on the small farm nearby, about 1km walk down the street. This meant we caught up with each other every afternoon for drinks and nibbles at the farm or the hotel. How wonderful it was to have time with them both.
On Sunday we all had a rest day but in the evening, we went joined the Korns to see the Spark, a tall vertically stacked bonfire with a witch on top of it. The tradition is that the witch is burnt on the first Sunday of Lent to chase away the ghosts of winter and ice and to bring spring and new life. Apparently it’s very important that the witch, filled with gunpowder explodes. ! Lots of people gathered in the cold weather to see it happen. Special foods are made for this time too. The witch did explode before the fire consumed the whole Spark. It’s called Funkenabbrennen.
On Monday, Ken and I went off t see what cross country trails were good for skiing. We found a small loop further up the road, but tracks were icy. We skied parts of these trails for a couple of days and then decided to be tourists as the skiing wasn’t good. On Thursday we took the large gondola and then tunnel bus for about 15mins. up to Silvretta. This is a beautiful spot and it was clear for most of the time we were there. The hotel overlooked the top dam of a hydroelectric power scheme where cross country tracks went across the dam and up slopes beyond it. This dam was at over 2,000m. high and the powerstation was in the valley below, 800m., so a good fall. The water pipeline was riveted steel so Ken says at it was built at least pre 2nd world war and maybe even earlier. The pipeline came down the hill beneath the gondola. On the way down we were held up, by a technical problem, so stood around for over an hour in cold conditions. When the problem was sorted out, there were about 60 people waiting to go down, with sleds., baby pushers, skis etc.!! We were very crowded in this gondola but made it back in time to join the Korns at 4.30pm.
Friday morning, Christoph Jager,, Ulrike’s brother, and daughter Anna arrived from the Black Forest. We went with them up to Silbreta, an old silver mining area. The views were amazing again, on the opposite side of the Montofon Vallet to Silbretta. We did some walking and after lunch, Christoph and Anna decided to walk down while we took the gondola again down to the valley. We managed to end up on the same bus back to Tschagguns as we had to wait for nearly an hour, having just missed one. The family then joined us at the Cresta hotel for dinner which was really special. Unfortunately Christine Jager had been unable to come but hope we catch up again soon.
Needless to say, Saturday was packing up again to head for Leutasch area. The others called in briefly to say goodbye and we were all on the way by 9.30am. Our trip down the valley to the main road going east towards Innsbruck, was easy, but then we crawled along behind lots of cars for a long time. Eventually we arrived at the Gasthof Gaistal near Obern about lunch time. We lunched nearby before checking in at the hotel. This is a superb family place where my food intolerances have been very carefully noted. It means all meals are fine for me. They have provided me with lactose free milk and yoghurt as well as gluten free bread, cookies and rolls. I am very spoilt!
On Sunday, we woke to light snow and -10C so didn’t rush out to ski immediately after breakfast. We went out later in the morning and had some great skiing on well prepared tracks in good snow conditions. I’m becoming more confident on skis too. After lunch we took the bus down to Weidach to ski shop and then took a bus to return back here. However that bus took us on a wonderful tour of the valley, down to Mittenwold and then around to Moos etc.
We’re looking forward to more good skiing tomorrow but after it warms up from the forecast -20C!
On Monday, Ken and I went off t see what cross country trails were good for skiing. We found a small loop further up the road, but tracks were icy. We skied parts of these trails for a couple of days and then decided to be tourists as the skiing wasn’t good. On Thursday we took the large gondola and then tunnel bus for about 15mins. up to Silvretta. This is a beautiful spot and it was clear for most of the time we were there. The hotel overlooked the top dam of a hydroelectric power scheme where cross country tracks went across the dam and up slopes beyond it. This dam was at over 2,000m. high and the powerstation was in the valley below, 800m., so a good fall. The water pipeline was riveted steel so Ken says at it was built at least pre 2nd world war and maybe even earlier. The pipeline came down the hill beneath the gondola. On the way down we were held up, by a technical problem, so stood around for over an hour in cold conditions. When the problem was sorted out, there were about 60 people waiting to go down, with sleds., baby pushers, skis etc.!! We were very crowded in this gondola but made it back in time to join the Korns at 4.30pm.
Friday morning, Christoph Jager,, Ulrike’s brother, and daughter Anna arrived from the Black Forest. We went with them up to Silbreta, an old silver mining area. The views were amazing again, on the opposite side of the Montofon Vallet to Silbretta. We did some walking and after lunch, Christoph and Anna decided to walk down while we took the gondola again down to the valley. We managed to end up on the same bus back to Tschagguns as we had to wait for nearly an hour, having just missed one. The family then joined us at the Cresta hotel for dinner which was really special. Unfortunately Christine Jager had been unable to come but hope we catch up again soon.
Needless to say, Saturday was packing up again to head for Leutasch area. The others called in briefly to say goodbye and we were all on the way by 9.30am. Our trip down the valley to the main road going east towards Innsbruck, was easy, but then we crawled along behind lots of cars for a long time. Eventually we arrived at the Gasthof Gaistal near Obern about lunch time. We lunched nearby before checking in at the hotel. This is a superb family place where my food intolerances have been very carefully noted. It means all meals are fine for me. They have provided me with lactose free milk and yoghurt as well as gluten free bread, cookies and rolls. I am very spoilt!
On Sunday, we woke to light snow and -10C so didn’t rush out to ski immediately after breakfast. We went out later in the morning and had some great skiing on well prepared tracks in good snow conditions. I’m becoming more confident on skis too. After lunch we took the bus down to Weidach to ski shop and then took a bus to return back here. However that bus took us on a wonderful tour of the valley, down to Mittenwold and then around to Moos etc.
We’re looking forward to more good skiing tomorrow but after it warms up from the forecast -20C!
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