We had reached the end of our stay at Pension Golm and it was time to move on ... we had thought about extending, then there was not space but finally there was statement coming out that everything (ski resorts, entertainment places, and restaurants, etc.) was closing down this Sunday, and the government had ordered all accommodation to close as well.
We had a place booked in a valley to the north, although when we had booked it the restraining order was not in place and we now knew we would only get 2 nights out of the 3 we had booked, however we could make use of the remaining time.
the place was Haus Margareth in Argenzipfel ... a town very close to AU just over the pass from Faschina, where we had been blown away last year on a reconnaissance visit
Packing up and loading all our stuff into the car we were down in the valley in time for a second breakfast at the Mangold bakery. Unfortunately the clampdown had started, in place of a cup and plate with a comfy chair, we had to have takeaway and eat on the outside tables.
Driving up to the Faschina pass the ski area was in full flow. We parked up to have a look around and also check out the ski area map. This, together with the route description allowed us to identify the departure point for the two touring routes going from here.
From here we dropped down into the Au valley and continued with a reconnaissance up the valley as far as Bad Hopfreben, before coming back to the lift at Schoppernau for lunch.
After lunch we parked up at the Spar shop and went for a stroll through the village. .. the valley seems to have a large number of dairy houses where the animals live in one part and the cows in a second ... there was also a distillery.
There was also a short diversion following the signs to a waterfall ... we never got there before the trail became too wet and steep, however we did see three blokes digging rocks out of the stream bank ... not really sure what they were doing but perhaps fossils or rock crystals.
Time to move over to the apartment ... a large two bed roomed place on the second floor of one of the farmhouses. A large kitchen, dinning, lounge room would be the main area
Looking out of the window/ balcony showed the lower reaches of the Schoppernau ski area.
Settling in and dinner of chicken in mushroom sauce with pasta and carrots/ broccoli.
Tomorrow the weather is set to be good, and we would aim to do a peak at Faschina.
then we would have to head home because of the Austria close down.
We had a place booked in a valley to the north, although when we had booked it the restraining order was not in place and we now knew we would only get 2 nights out of the 3 we had booked, however we could make use of the remaining time.
the place was Haus Margareth in Argenzipfel ... a town very close to AU just over the pass from Faschina, where we had been blown away last year on a reconnaissance visit
Packing up and loading all our stuff into the car we were down in the valley in time for a second breakfast at the Mangold bakery. Unfortunately the clampdown had started, in place of a cup and plate with a comfy chair, we had to have takeaway and eat on the outside tables.
Driving up to the Faschina pass the ski area was in full flow. We parked up to have a look around and also check out the ski area map. This, together with the route description allowed us to identify the departure point for the two touring routes going from here.
From here we dropped down into the Au valley and continued with a reconnaissance up the valley as far as Bad Hopfreben, before coming back to the lift at Schoppernau for lunch.
There was also a short diversion following the signs to a waterfall ... we never got there before the trail became too wet and steep, however we did see three blokes digging rocks out of the stream bank ... not really sure what they were doing but perhaps fossils or rock crystals.
Time to move over to the apartment ... a large two bed roomed place on the second floor of one of the farmhouses. A large kitchen, dinning, lounge room would be the main area
Looking out of the window/ balcony showed the lower reaches of the Schoppernau ski area.
Tomorrow the weather is set to be good, and we would aim to do a peak at Faschina.
then we would have to head home because of the Austria close down.
