The description was of a 4-km hike to a small cluster of mountain homes accessible only on foot on a road that had enough slope to ride the sled back, or in the worst case enjoy a nice walk back. So we dragged our sleds along (probably more trouble than it's worth) and had a fantastic day at high altitudes, cold in the shade but nice and cosy warm on the restaurant's terrace at Partnunstafel, below a stunning rocky ridge that forms the border between Austria and Switzerland.
On the way up, a local bringing goods up to the restaurant with his snowmobile offered to take our sleds for us, so the last climb was easier, and lo! what fun to see our sleds waiting for us at the restaurant! After a yummy Swiss Rösti dish, the first part of the descent was OK with the sled, but after that there were only intermittent stretches to ride... but the walk back to the darling village of St.Antönien for the bus ride back was great too.
January 31 (update) -- This might sadly already be the end of the sledding season, as the Fön is blowing again, bringing warm weather and rain and melting the snow more quickly than it came...
 |
| Heading through Canton Grisons through the Prättigau Region near the Austrian Border. |
 |
| Heading through Canton Grisons through the Prättigau Region near the Austrian Border. |
 |
| Our 4 km walk to just below that massif started in St.Antönien |
 |
| The walk to that cluster of houses in the back was 4 km and took us 1.5 hours. |
 |
| Our goal is that cluster of buildings below that fantastic ridge that marks the Swiss-Austrian border. |
 |
| There go our sleds! |
 |
| Not much more to go, it's just on top of that hill |
 |
| Cool, there are our sleds at the Restaurant Sulzfluh |
 |
| Enjoying Rösti at the Restaurant Sulzfluh at Partnunstafel |
 |
| Enjoying Rösti on the terrace at the Restaurant Sulzfluh at Partnunstafel |
 |
The walk from St.Antönien to Partnunstafel took us 1.5 hours (4 km) and we half sledded, half walked back.
|
 |
| After lunch, we head down by sled as far as possible before walking again. |
 |
| After lunch, we head down by sled as far as possible before walking again. |
 |
 |
| The cows are happy to get out of the barn for some sunshine |
 |
| Everybody is enjoying the sunshine! |
 |
| Village of St.Antönien where we will get back on the bus |
 |
| Village of St.Antönien where we will get back on the bus |
 |
| Heading back from the high valley to the lower one, already long time in the shadows |
 |
| The Prättigau Region is near the border of Austria |
No comments:
Post a Comment