Sunday, July 20, 2008

Austrian Alps

We're just back from a week in the Austrian Alps. Kev, Cheryl and I headed out to Stefan's house in Southern Germany. From there we made plenty of day trips out whilst we sheltered from the torrential rain. We paddled many lesser known classics in the region, mostly in beautiful steep sheer walled Bavarian gorges.
Highlights were the Brandenberger, Lammer and Salzach gorges. In places these fully enclosed and roofed by chockstones!



Kev in contemplative mood.

The Brandenburger had handy inspection walkways and bridges throughout the most difficult gorges, which came in very handy. We made a highish water run, and a repeat the following day!. Locals run the whole river in an hour or so after work, it took us about 4 hours!!!
When the rains finally stopped, we headed out to Landeck for some of the classic Austrian runs., the Imst Gorge, Sanna, Landeck Gorge, Lower Oetz.
I had visited the area about 10 years before, and was amazed at the runs that we had paddled back then... They are still really good classic alpine runs... We had more water this time, certainly, and this made river choice very important. Many of the runs in the area were too high, due to more rain! and it made the decision easy to stay in a nice guesthouse in Oetz rather than rough it camping!


Hiking up to inspect the Wellerbrucke on the Middle Oetz. Very scarey and steep!

Thanks to Stefan for putting us up, at his lovely place, and for BBQing so well!

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