Austrian Holiday
21 Beachy Head Ramblers met at Gatwick Airport in early July to go to the Austrian Tyrol. Our comfortable hotel was situated in the pedestrianised centre of the small town of St Johann in the Kitzbuheler Alps. A warm welcome and colourful flowers greeted us on arrival. We were joined by 2 extra Canadian friends who were made honorary members of the group for the week.
Wednesday: After settling in there was an afternoon orientation stroll around the centre
Thursday: 23 walkers started exploring the mountain huts. Huts are like very large country pubs in Britain. Walkers can stamp their cards at each hut they visit and get a walking badge at the end of the week. By the time we got down to St Johann in the afternoon, umbrellas were up and being used as parasols. This glorious weather lasted all week with temperatures reaching the high 80s
Friday: We braved the gondola to take us up the Hirschbichl mountain for a walk through pine woods and farmland, admiring spectacular views, waterfalls and alpine flowers along the way. In the evening we went to an excellent weekly outdoor brass band concert.
Saturday: We were back on our mountain exploring new areas and more huts, trying not to get too lost! In the evening the town had its summer festival – fun but noisy.
Sunday: Three brave members of our group went paragliding. Some of us went to visit the Krimml waterfalls, Europe’s highest falls.
Monday: We went by gondola to the top station of our mountain and ten members managed to climb right to the top, three descending to Kitzbuhel and returning to St Johann by train. The weather was perfect for a barbecue that evening followed by a ‘Tyrolean Evening’ of song, dance and thigh-slapping.
Tuesday: We used the local bus to the start of our walk. Most of us took it at a leisurely pace as it was so hot, but four strong souls strode out and climbed another peak on a long distance route to a hut with the grand name of Stripsenjochhaus.
Interspersed with all this walking, people enjoyed the picturesque outdoor swimming pool to cool off. Some borrowed the excellent bikes and went off around the valley. Trips were undertaken by a few to Salzburg, the Grossglockner glacier, to lakes and Innsbruck. Everyone returned home tired and hot but with lots of memories of an action-packed week with friends among the sun-drenched mountains of St Johann.