Die Rotwand

Today was a brilliant day weatherwise, so I took myself off to the Rotwand (1885m). It took almost two hours to get there (I stop frequently), and the view was amazing. There were lots of other people there, too – I reckon I saw 500 people in one hour between the peak and the Rotwandhaus (where they serve food and drink).

Saw a couple of Murmeltiere (marmots) on the way

Most of the peaks have a cross on top, with info including altitude

Some of the people up on top (and an Alpine Chough)

The path I walked on leading to the Rotwand...

...and the path ahead, leading to the Rotwandhaus (far right)

Snow on the mountains in the background (in Austria!)

I ended up walking through the near side of this valley

From the Rotwandhaus, I headed further away, then circled around the valley behind the Rotwand and did a loop back to the Taubensteinbahn (the gondola station on the ridge above Obere Maxlraineralm). During this part of the walk I saw fewer than 20 people in three hours. At times I felt that I was the only person in the world.

Schön

Looking towards the Chiemsee in the distance

Some fascinating rock formations (and pretty flowers, too!)\

The ringing of cowbells is constant here in the Alps

When I crested the next saddle into another valley, I could see the Taubensteinhaus, which is only five minutes from the gondola station. Not far to go, I thought. Wrong. I had to walk to the valley floor, then climb up again to the Taubensteinhaus. Quite steep. Over an hour.

Der Taubenstein is the rock peak on the left; der Raukopf is the peak on the right - both of which I have climbed. Taubensteinhaus is on the far right

It's almost like a caldera - or a salad bowl

The road already travelled...

Dry stone walls and rocks on the roof to keep the shingles there

From the far side of the valley, looking back to the saddle that I crossed

From Taubensteinhaus to Obere Maxlraineralm is about 20 minutes. Of course, it took me much longer (mainly because I stopped and read my Kindle under a tree on the way down!)

Looking down to Obere Maxlraineralm and its by-now familiar mountains