Excursion

After 4 days of lectures and exercises, we had some free time on Saterday afternoon, but it rained. It rained the whole evening too, and rain in Karthaus means snow higher up in the mountains this time of year. Although the weather was beautiful the next day, there was too much snow to go on the excursion (which would take place at about 3000 m.a.s.l.) and it was postponed to Wednesday.

The weather stayed very clear and sunny, and so, on Wednesday morning we went to Kurzras (2000 m.a.s.l.), a town at the upper end of the Schnalstal. From there we took the cable car up the mountain (3212 m.a.s.l.) and started our walk down a glacier, which also serves as a skiing piste. At the end of this glacier we found moraines and a real ice cave. Felix Ng explained us some of the processes involved.



After this wonderful sight we walked up to the mountain hut Schöne Aussicht/Bella Vista (2848 m.a.s.l.) and had a delicious lunch. Although it is quite strenous to walk up a mountain with a (very) full stomach, most of us went all the way up to Am Hintern Eis (3269 m.a.s.l.) to enjoy a great view on the Hintereisferner and a drink.



It was a long way down to Kurzras again, so we started out on time to not miss the last bus (which would depart around 18h15). Once in Kurzras it turned out that the busses had just changed from summer to winter schedules, therefore the last bus had already left at 17h15! Luckily the Tiroler people are very friendly and all of us were able to hitchhike back to Karthaus. We were tired, but satisfied, and ready for another great dinner and some tango dancing later on...