'Summer in the Alps' Day 16 - Türmljoch

Tuesday 17 July 2018

An overcast day with good views but annoying showers.

Thirteen of us, including Sue and me, and Thomas and Andrea from our group of ten, and Jo from Collett's, drove to Hinterbichl to catch the 9.30 taxi up a private road to Johannishütte (2121 metres). This proved a good way to ascend about 600 metres. €12 each well spent.

With rain sheeting down, Sue and I were joined by John and Claire for coffees before setting off in lighter rain behind the other nine, weaving slowly up the mountainside on the good path. The strong coffee saw me rapidly overhaul the rest of the group, but it gave Claire a funny turn! She soon caught up though.

Last time we were on Türmljoch, a 2772 metre pass, it snowed. Today it was just drizzly. We spent a little while there, admiring both Sticky Primroses and Least Primroses once we had established from our flower book which was which, before descending the good path with views across to Simonysee, towards Essener-Rostocker Hütte (2207 metres). A sheltered glade on the way down provided a good spot for lunch, with views across to yesterday's panoramic belvedere walk.

There was more rain while we were hot chocolating in the hut. A game of dominoes passed the time until the rain stopped and we descended back to the cars past a distressed cow in the process of being rescued, through flower strewn meadows full of Martagon Lilies, orchids, columbines,  monkshood, black rampion, angelica and tall woolly thistles, without any further need to deploy our waterproof clothing.

We passed Stoanalm but on this occasion we eschewed its attractions of refreshments.

Beyond a kletterpark, a right turn took us to a path beside a river that thundered down a narrow gorge. Avalanche debris lower down had resulted in the path to Hinterbichl being re-routed. We emerged there in fine weather at around 5.15pm after a thoroughly enjoyable walk.

Today: 18km, 800 metres ascent
 
Today's pictures:
The view back to Johannishütte and yesterday's hills
Sticky primrose
Türmljoch

Least primrose
Martagon lily
Stoanalm