Austria

August 7 to 29, 2010

alpinolino

fleiding

As a reward for their good hiking on the Murmeltierrallye, the kids got to play at the playground a bit before we headed off to scale the next peak - Fleiding. Samantha was showing no signs of fatigue as she skipped off ahead while Christopher took the slower pace and Rubby (who to make it more of a challenge walked half of it up backwards.) With lots of words of encouragement and story telling to keep Christopher too busy to think about the hike, we made it up in time to have lunch of semmeln and landjaeger (Austrian buns and a type of pepperoni stick). Along the way we also saw some butterflies which reminded us of last year and we decided to nickname the mountain Butter-Fly-Ding.

The view up to the Fleiding cross.

Making our way up the steepest part.

Samantha and Opa are far ahead.

Christopher has made it up the first part...
those people in the distance can't believe such a little guy could climb up that huge mountain "all by his own self!"

Looking back at the cross of Guggenkoegele where we had been earlier today.

Cow catchers!

Someone lost a lift card.

Getting close to the lift station at the top of the Fleiding lift.

The pace isn't fast, but Christopher is doing the hike all on his own two legs.

A bathtub for the cows provides an interesting break and distraction.

Sammy and Opa waiting at the cross.

The kids enjoy some well-deserved chocolate.

Posing with the cross.

Yay! We made it!

Christopher is hungry after all that hiking!

The view back to Guggenkoegele and Hohe Salve. Westendorf is in the valley between those 2 peaks.

Time to sign the logbook.

Our log... we called all our butterfly friends from along the way "butter-fleidings".

Kaiser buns and Landjaegers.

Lunch time!

Time to head back down again.

Samantha is definitely Opa's hiking partner today!

Coming down the steep part.

Carefully avoiding the electric wires.

Sam would like to sign up for ski classes.

Some well deserved play time for the kids.

Samantha swingin' and a-climbin'.

Christopher hanging out in his cottage.

Beep! Beep!

The grooming machines will forever be known as "the beep beep machines"
which was the name Sam gave them when she was 2 years old and had a winter vacation in Austria.