Winter Austria 2006
http://www.gaestehaushubertus.at - friendly Austrian hospitality
http://www.innerkrems.at - the ski resort
http://www.maltatal-alpin.at - for ice-climbing in Maltatal
Malta is very small and not very well known, so we have a map here to show you where it is (it's in Austria...).
DAY ONE
-------
We travelled together with Paul and Bibi in a rented Renault Megane. It turned out to be very fuel efficient, and we could take out the middle seat to make some room for Paul's snowboard and all the Swiss chocolate.
We stopped along the way for a hot chocolate and potato dog, as you can see on the sign to the right(hash-brown outside, sausage inside).
DAY TWO
-------
On the second day, we got out the snow shoes for a trek around the ice-climbing area. Paul and Pieter brushed up their ice-climbing skills and Bibi and Julia went for a walk in the snow.
Pieter shows how to hold the ice axes using the correct grip. Thumbs up!
Paul takes a breather.
Paul studies the frozen waterfalls in the vicinity.
One-two-three.....hang! Paul shows the ideal position, arms straight and heels down. This way, you can hang there for hours!
Tip for Bibi's husband Hervé: she wants a Palm, look how happy she is with one in her hand!
It was a real pity that Hervé could not be there due to duties at work.
Pieter tries on some goggles in the apartment.
DAY THREE
---------
Paul abseils down a waterfall at the start of another day of practising.
Paul busy on the ice face. To Pieter's surprise, Paul manages to get all the way to the top!
Some nice scenery (click photo to enlarge for a nicer view).
Paul at the base of a climb. Also this photo is nice to enlarge.
Pieter climbing carefully, trying not to sweep away the delicate icicles he's climbing on.
Pieter said that the ledge where his left foot is in the photo was really good!
Pieter: "well, yes, after I passed the thin icicle, the icesheet continued to be steep and flat, without easy holds for my picks or anything, so this protruding ledge was indeed very welcome".
Paul on the opposite site of the valley "Columbus" where they climbed that day.
The market place of nearby town Gmünd.
The shuttle bus from the ski fields dropped Julia and Bibi back here in the evening. This saved us the long, winding drive to the ski fields every day.
DAY FOUR
--------
Pieter ice climbing, finally we're leading a real climb ("Kerschhacklfall").
Pieter screwing in an ice screw. Unfortunately for him, Hervé had the other half of the set of sharp ice screws. This was a blunt one...
Final check before abseiling down the cliff:
*harness - check
*helmet - check
*ice axes - check
*survival Swiss chocolate - check
Pieter abseiling, carefully approaching the edge of the ice face.
In the evening, we played some card games. In this shot, Bibi was the queen for a round of Macchiavelli. We also played Carcasonne, Zug um Zug and the Settlers of Catan.
DAY FIVE
--------
Bibi, Paul and Julia went skiing. We had a delicious lunch in the restaurant you can see in the photo.
And Pieter, well.....what did he get up to???
L-R: Bibi, Burton, Paul.
Julia and Paul in the chair lift.
More of the chair-lift
Julia and Bibi at the top of the chairlift 4er Sesselbahn Grünleitennock - 2128m.
Paul helped the kid on the right, first of all with his goggles, then with his skis.
This is the ski school, where Julia has taken lessons for the past three years. The mascot is a penguin called Bobo.
Julia going to her lesson.
Those skis are heavier than they look!
And what did Pieter get up to? He went to Spital to buy a newspaper, and ended up with a parking fine, which he very dutifully paid. It was a very expensive newspaper!
Pieter: "to reduce the costs, I decided to buy a magazine as well".
DAY SIX
-------
We went for a walk in the snow together. We walked from where the yellow road meets the red path on the right, to the Hochalmhütte (1933m) and back. Indeed, a 747m climb!
At the start of the walk. Do we take the left turn here?
Paul clowning around.
Paul lies down in the snow for a quick nap.
Bibi, Paul and Julia on the path to the top.
(videoclip - click to view or save) Three snow walkers on the way up to the Hochalmhütte.
It was snowing a bit so the visibility to the other side of the valley wasn't so good.
The whole group. The other left foot Pieter!!
Stopping for lunch at the Hochalmhütte (which is closed at this time of year).
Where's the Swiss chocolate???
It was a little clearer on the way back down.
Despite being the only one with walking sticks, Bibi still managed to fall over!
A small hut on the path back down. What are they looking at??
DAY SEVEN
---------
We all went skiing, even Pieter!
This is the top of the other chairlift, Doppelsessellift Blutige Alm.
(videoclip - click to play or save, instructions beneath video) The top of the ski lift Doppelsessellift Blutige Alm.
A blue skiing slope, Pieter's favorite. Click on the photo for a better view.