We were joined by Jack from Collett's and fellow guests Colin and Ann for this magnificent walk from the Lucknerhaus car park above Kals.
It was a perfect summer's day with a pretty much cloudless sky. That made for great views to Großglockner, which blotted out a nearby horizon, and great views far and wide in other directions.
The ascent to Glorerhütte was well graded. We passed just a few people on the path and we saw only a handful of folk all day. Sue and I recalled our experience of the Rockies last year - there's a marked contrast; the Alps have the benefit of fewer trees, and a route such as today's in the Rockies could be either crowded out or accessible only by permit.
The hut provided refreshments and apfelstrudel, before we ascended from the 2642 metre hut to the 2821 metre summit of Kastenegg. Whilst the ascent included a short and very easy scramble, the wide summit plateau provided an excellent venue for lunch. We stayed there for some time, and even spotted Graham B on the top of Großglockner.
The descent via paths 713a to Pesichachtorl, then path 67 back to the start, was through more of the beautiful meadows that have graced this trip. Marmots and cows went about their business, ignorant of our presence, as we passed by carpets of Alpine Asters and Vanilla Orchids.
After this relatively short excursion, Colin drove us back to Matrei for further R&R and a final meal at Hotel Hinteregger.
Thanks go to Jo, Jack, Katie, Ali and Ben - the Collett's team - and Katerina and her staff at the hòtel, for helping to make the week so pleasurable, and our team of ten for being excellent company.
Today: 11.5 km, 900 metres ascent
Today's pictures:
The view above Lucknerhaus
Apfelstrudel at Glorerhütte
Glorerhütte and Großglockner
Spring gentians
Our group ascends
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