STUBAITAL: THE STUBAI GLACIERS
Exactly one week before we set out on this walk the temperature up here at the Eisgrat restaurant at 2900m (9515 ft) had been 26°. Today, as we started our walk up the glacier, it was just 2° and it was snowing. So much for an August heatwave!
The views ere very bleak and this suggestion that the sun might break through quickly disappeared.
We started the climb up the glacier to the top station at Jochdohle. Everything around us was white as we trekked up into the clouds.
At these temperatures the snow on top of the ice was quite firm. It was very slow-going, and the effect of altitude was quite marked as we gasped for breath and our throats rasped.
Looking down the slope. Anyone for the beach?
Made it! The top station is at 3128m (10263 feet). From here there are fantastic views across the highest summits of the Tyrol and to the Dolomites in northern Italy. Today we couldn't see a thing.
What a contrast! Within a few minutes the gondolas had whisked us back down to the valley.
The remainder of our walk was by a riverside path.
The glacier fed stream crashes down from the heights.
The weather starts to improve as we near the end of the walk.
We passed the spectacular Grawa waterfall.
A lot of water coming down here!