Austria
August 7 to 29, 2010
alpinolino
murmeltierrallye
After the kids had a bit of time to play at the lift station, it was time to do the Murmeltier-rallye - a circular hike around the mountain peak Guggenkoegele with lots of stations along the way with games and interesting facts about Austrian mountain animals. We also stopped along the way to nibble on blueberries along the path. Before we knew it, we were at the cross at the top and signing the logbook. Some of the stations had been moved around from last year and the new lift station was also finished now (although it only goes in the winter for the skiers). Back at the main lift station Samantha beat her record from last year on the climbing wall by a whole level!
The lift station in Westendorf.
From the lift station you can see the apartments.
Advertisement for an open-air art show up on the mountain.
Mr. Alpinolino greets us at the station half-way up the mountain.
A quick stop at the playground when we get to the top.
Christopher gets to say hi to the bunnies.
A couple of Canadian marmots. :)
The kids at the start of the Alpinolino trail up to the mountain top.
Some old lift chairs being put to new uses.
Opa takes a little break.
The woodpecker station.
Who's knocking on our tree trunk?!
The view across to the Kitzbuehler Horn.
Christopher gets to hike this one "all by his own self".
A lookout for those with "eagle eyes".
Christopher uses the telescope to try and spot some marmots.
The trails are always much longer when we have to stop and pick blueberries along the way.
Mmmmmmm! Blueberries!
Sam proves she's smarter than a cow. :)
Just the last little trail up to the cross at Guggenkoegele.
Hmmmm, maybe we could get a ride for the rest of the way up...?!
Opa is the first to get up to the cross and quickly signs the log book.
The kids make it up too but their first order of business is to eat a snack of blueberries!
Now it's time to sign the log book.
Samantha signed her name whereas Christopher just drew a picture of himself.
Awwww, what cute little baby birds!
Christopher seems happy to have made it to the top... Grosser Rettenstein next?!
Samantha takes a turn on the mountain goat.
Snack time!
This marker is not very useful!
Moooo!
Sam seems more interested in climbing around than finding out which mountain is which!
Samantha can jump as far as a bunny.
Christopher doing maintenance on the long jump.
It's race time!
A zoomed in view of Westendorf from the top of the mountain.
View of Westendorf and the Brixental valley.
Sam and Christopher riding a badger.
Cow poo art...
Opa and Samantha demonstrating their balancing skills.
Christopher and Rubby take their turn.
Movin' on...
The station we never quite figured out.
Samantha getting all the way to the 4th level of the climbing wall.
Where to now?
Ploumps! Good thing they have mats!
the elevation profile of our hike.
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still to come:
august 20-29