Der Schwarzenkopf

On Tuesday the weather looked good in the morning, so off I went again. Up the Alm for a bit, then I cut across and climbed the ridge behind the hut. No path, and it was really steep.

Stopping and resting during the steep climb

The view over the other side of the ridge

The daisy's pretty. The hoverfly obviously thought so, too.

Once at the top, I made my way along the ridge downhill towards Spitzingsee. Again - no path, and quite a steep drop over the other side.

This anthill is about 80 cm high. I've seen quite a few of them around

Yes, well - this is what happens when you can't hold handstands any more

A nice, steep drop down into the valley

I'm standing in front of the Taubenstein

When I could go no further, I headed sideways, knowing I'd connect with the track from Obere Maxlraineralm to the bottom of the cargo lift.  It took a while because it was so steep, but I found the track and turned downhill.  When a proper path led off to the right towards the Schwarzenkopf and the Spitzingsattel, I followed it.

The path through the fir forest

And then a patch where the main tree is beech

Coming out of the forest, looking at Schwarzenkopfhaus

I don't think I actually climbed the Schwarzenkopf. The ridge I did climb was just part of the mountain that peaks at the Taubenstein outcrop. Oh, well. Once I emerged from the forest, I headed down the road, eventually coming to the turn-off towards the cargo lift, which is how everything gets to the hut - food, drink, washing, helpers with suitcases, that sort of thing.

I think this is Untere Maxlraineralm

Obere Maxlraineralm is up the road on the left

The Schinder, a double-headed mountain in Austria

The road towards Obere Maxlraineralm, with a view of the Taubenstein on the left

The Valepp valley on the way to Spitzingsee Ort

 Once in town, I bought an ice-cream and then headed for the Taubensteinbahn.

Hiking trails from Spitzingsee, plus a sign for Obere Maxlraineralm

Hot enough again to go paddling in the Spitzingsee

The last couple of towers on the Taubensteinbahn

Silberdistel flowering on the Obere Maxlrainer Alm

The flowers are really stiff and spiky, and 8-10 cm across

And cows on the Alm when I got back (plus the sound of cowbells!)