Hiked in Kuhtai Valley Again
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Yesterday we hiked up the Nockspitz again. It´s a peak overlooking Innsbruck with a cross on top of it (crosses always make peaks better). Last time we were up there, there was a Sunday mass going on at the cross – this time there was no mass, but the Eidelweisse were out in full bloom.
This was the last hike we got to do with several of our friends who are regular hikers. We´re staying here until the end of the week, but many of them are leaving tomorrow. Our French school teacher friends, some American University professors, and a few others were all there to climb the peak for the last time this summer. One of our friends from last summer – Hubert – was back.
It was good to see him. He still climbs like a billy goat at the age of 79 – very impressive. It was nice that Martin was our guide – he actually referred to us as the “family” on the bus to the trail head. It was a hot day for Innsbruck, but cool compared to France. We found it to be great hiking weather in good company.
At the end of the day, we all said our goodbyes, promised to write each other, and made plans and promises to meet again next summer. Martin surprised us by letting us know we could buy Innsbruck Wanderfuhrer shirts – the much coveted Guide shirts. We have been bugging him about getting shirts for two years now – ever since he first started asking us to help make sure the groups stayed together (Backfuhrer position – in other words, you get assigned to the back of the group, and have to stay there for the whole hike, and inform the guide if there are any problems).
Today we were back up the Kuhtai valley where we saw the horses and marmots last week. It was too hot for the marmots to come out today, and the horses were grazing in lower pastures, but the valley lived up to it´s name today – cows were everywhere in Cow Valley. We found it funny to see “Cow Crossing for the next 12 Km” signs – just like our moose signs at home. It was so hot today that you could hear the glaciers melting in the bowl between the two mountains they sat in. There is very little of them left, and what is left is full of gravel. There´s no summer skiing anywhere this year.
We had a new guide today – his name was Rudy. He was a good guide, if not a little too quiet (he said very little compared to some of the other guides who spend a great deal of time teaching us about local flowers, herbal medicines, mushrooms, and trees). Non-the-less, it was an enjoyable day (once we learned to ignore the incessant inane banter of some of the American guests). Opps – did that sound sarcastic? You had to have been there…
The most amazing thing about the last two days is that I´ve managed to get George to go swimming with me! He´s a great swimmer, and seems surprised to find it enjoyable after a long hike. The pool has a wall of windows that looks out on to the mountain peaks – it´s one of the most beautiful facilities I´ve swum in. It´s even better now that George is there with me. (I´m going to get in serious crap if I push this any further, so enough said…)
Tomorrow we may go off to hike on our own – we´ll let you know…
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