Tyrolean summer hike: Gerlos-Isskogel

Summer air in the mountains has peculiar feel, its warm with cool breeze, a sweet smell, the air seems to stick to the skin and the buzz of insects when there is a lull. My thoughts always wander to sitting in grass and seeing ladybirds creep and fly in the sweet sticky mountain summer. Its the perfection of being idyllic.
In Gerlos, which is a small town in the Tyrolean alpine area of Austria in the summer of 2014, me and Deepam drove in from Brussels with no idea of how beautiful it would be. Once we entered Austria each tunnel and and each bend unfolded picture perfect mountain vistas and valleys. Once in Gerlos, our host dismissively informed us of a hike that was rather difficult and suggested some more sane ones. It was a mix of challenge, foolhardiness and the high of being back in the mountains we love that we decided to go from Gerlos to Isskogel. Next morning with a day pack, some food  and a coffee at a cafe out of a movie scene we stepped out first along the valley on a paved track and shared it with some cows for a distance. Further it was a gradual incline and then came a enticing gate which led in the woods on a steep incline, feeling pink we stepped in. It was a mix of slush, grass, flowing water which we stepped into.

The incline steep and as we got sweaty, we became more attractive for the insects. Seeing Deepam puffing, I sped off ahead with an evil idea in my head. I had seen a video in which a guy teases his clambering girl to no extent and makes a video, the girl as she is tired doesn't respond at all. I tried the same, but with different outcome-either I was not pesky enough or Deepam is made of stronger stuff. I did made the video but its opposite of what it was meant to be-I tease and then run for cover under the onslaught of a possessed damsel.

Anyhow the slush gave way to firmer ground as we went on.
At halfway we came across a wooden building with a live band playing Austrian folk music and surrounded by people having a great lunch in the sun. A bottle of water, some shade and we moved off. We were like a rickshaw on the Delhi street, overtaken by everybody but in race with other rickshaws. Winning our small races and loosing to the ones we did  not acknowledge we came over the tear drop from the sky-it was a small lake on the edge of a mountain overlooking the valley. Surrounded by grass and reflecting the sky and clear to base - it was enough of a prize for our struggle so far.

The route forward was smirking at our happiness, it knew what we didn't-the steep climb ahead. It was a open face of grassy slope and a steep way up. Huff-puff and we were up. At the top a new page unfolded, this was Isskogel-sitting like a balcony for the valley at the summit.
The surrounding snow clad mountain peaks were at eye level, the green valley spread out in either direction and the glaciers opposite visible in their entirety. Like a vantage point from the eagles nest as we could imagine. Enough said but the way down was yet to be done. Rolling, hopping, falling nearly down by dusk, the greed of a shorter way made us a lost pair in the woods.

We chanced upon our hotel in direct line of sight but in between stood a small enclosure for cattle which we could have easily crossed if we had not thought of the possibility of there being a herd dog. Knees aching and contemplating - an agonizing thirty minutes later we decided to starve the imaginary dog from our super tasty legs and retraced our steps to find another way down, which we did eventually find.
Tired but happy we dragged our aching selves in to some rest and see the photos.

Ninlingspo valley hike

The spring is approaching, the green specks of leaves of eager to burst open in the vast expanses of brown fallen leaves, the Sun yet plays hide n seek with the budding flowers and the breeze lost its sting. With so much happening in the forests, though the clouds in the sky were making  the sun scarce and temperature plummet again - they were not enough to keep us home bound on a grey, cold Saturday. Bags packed, tiffin locked and camera charged - off we go. This time to a oriental sounding river, in the heart of Belgium. Close to Liege-Spa-Remouchamps is a small sleepy village Sedoz. Starting from here with our new GPS on the click- we planned to follow the Ninlingspo river upstream to a vantage pint overlooking the Ardennes.

The lay out was a hike along the river in the forest. Starting with Deepam as the brightest spot my camera could find in the entire day, I focussed on my favourite focus point :)

With numerous river crossings stating from the begining, Deepam already knew she had trouble brewing by not wearing waterproof shoes. Fortunately with the spring just beginning, there was not much water and the logs fell at strategic places.

The chirping started, mankind made itself scarce and it was pue bliss.Soon enough the short inclines started and walking became a sccrable at times, often unsightly and ungainly. Discussing the synamics of walking - chi running -  over striding , we improved our postures. The GPS-wikiloc, worked liked a charm and after a nearly lost experience with Lucy and Charles at Haute Fen, it was reassuring

It would be an interesting walk in the summers with warmer temperatures.


At times you slow down and hear the gurgling of the water, its in a hurry but not rushed. Its amazing how peacful can it look and sound when its actually in a tearing rush to go down. Perhaps because its to go down and not up

Soon enough by time but late enough for our hungry bellies, we chanced on a bench, overlooking the magnificient landscape. Out came the tiffin and it was the time to dig in . By the time we finished devouring the last specks of food, came a group of retired people. They were out to have a walk, what a paradox - being Belgians they were venturing here the first time. But there is no one who would have seen every part of his country, even if its as small as Belgim, if he has - then the grudge would be that he hasnt been much beyond his own country. So like open mminded travellers we should shun these predujices - I remind myself time and again. After an interesting chat we started for the second leg.
We chanced on a waterfall and it was neighther spectacular nor breathtaking but it was mersmerising.

Nearing the end we came to the vantage point (the first picture on top). It was a nice place to be, but a frequented vantage point, nothing more-nothing less. Lumbering downhill with my comedy radio channel at full blast ( Deepam channel-personal frequency - wife radio; are the specs). Back to car-refreshed and happy and with the thought to be back next week.