Ötztal

Jim went skiing at Kühtai today. Jim M., Chris and I went to the Ötztal. Chris wanted to have a "High Alpine" experience. The Ötztal gets higher the farther into it you drive. At the very end, you are on the border of Italy, looking into the Dolomites. The high road to Timmeljoch and into Italy, is closed in winter. So we drove all the way into the end of the valley. We wanted to take a gondola up to a high peak and have lunch there in a Berg-Restaurant. So we drove into Hochgurgl, which was already half way up the mountain and from there took the Hochgurgl Bahn. From the top of the Bahn, we took a chair lift to the very top of the mountain. The mountain is called Wurmkogel and it is at 3082 meters, about 9000 feet. The views were spectacular. Even driving there through the Ötz valley the , views were terrific. We had sunshine and fresh snow, which added to the atmosphere. The Ötz valley is a hundred times more beautiful than the Ziller Valley. Less industrial, less populated, and much more natural. From a distance, we clearly saw two Steinbock (Alpine Ibex) running around on the side of the mountain. There is also a beautiful river - maybe a large brook, that runs along the valley floor. That was very pretty too. You can see the photos and judge for yourself.
We had lunch at the Mittelstation of a ski area at Hochgurgl. It was very much the high alpine experience Chris was looking for! The views were amazing. There was a round observation tower cum bar at the very top, where we took some photos and looked into Italy.

This is the area where Ötzi the Iceman was found, up on the glacier between Austria and Italy.

After Hochgurgl, we drove into a side valley, the Ventertal, to the town of Vent. That valley was also very pretty, narrow and steep. We stopped for coffee in Vent, the last town in the valley, before driving back.

For dinner Jim is making Käsespätzle for us. I am making Maulwurf Kuchen for dessert, with Chris' help. Too bad Brian and Dan won't be here to experience it.