Mikes Blog

A run around Hochgrat then last minute shopping
Wednesday 2nd May

A classic little trip for me by myself this morning. A pure morning . Another almost spotless day. Just a litle wind. We are told this is the best April people can emember.I need to be back by early afternoon so Zita can go to Kempten and do some final shopping.

I drive to Steibis and the bottom of the Hochgrat Bahn - alone - in a place as familiar to me as Otaki Forks. Thinking about time constraints with the car but wanting to do something different, I decide on a round trip that will take me from the Cable car base stationat about 800 metres, up to a saddle called ????, then along the ridge for a kilometre or so to the peak of Hochgrat itself at 1850 metres. Then drop down the other side and down the mountain road that Zita and I descended a few days ago.

The last part of the climb to the ridge on this trip involves a traverse across bluffs for about 200 metres on a narrowish track, with a big drop underneath. There are cables to hang on to in the more exposed places as long as they are not buried in snow. I had been here about 10 years ago and the cables were under snow and the ledge was also difficult with the snow on. I was unsure what show might be on this north facing ledge this time.

The first 20 minutes is a jog down the small road only open to local farm vehicles and walkers. Then the track turns off the road and heads up the hill at a steepish diagonal across grass slopes which will be grazed in summer. The local Alpine Club has put a sign here - 'Trittersicher und Schwindlefrei Erfordnet' (Meaning you must be sure footed and have a good head for hieghts, as it is a climbing rather than walking route)

I continue to jog slowly but relentlessly up the rough trackwhich, after about 100 metres of vertical climb, enters forest. After a couple of zig zags, the track emerges into an Alp (summer grazing area) with an as yet for this season unoccupied mountain house.

At the end of this basin, the track climbs steeply again, past a delightful 30 metre water fall, sunlight sparkling in the cascade.

Above the water fall I enter a third basin surounded by a small circ of steepening grass and forest slopes that end in rock bluffs. These bluffs are about 100 metres high. I ca see snow lying on ledges and in some gulleys and I wonder how the traverse track wil be. With my running shoes I kick a few steps in in a local patch of snow. Conditions are good. Soft enough for good sized steps but not too loose to make the steps unstable.

I loose the trail and continue directly up the steepening grass slope where I pik up a set of rough steps that lead around a rocky nose of rock.Now there is a steep entry rocky slope about 5 metres highthat leads onto the traverse ledge itself. Although a bi expsoed there is a cable to hang on to.

I am now on the ledge and the way ahead is snow free. Halleluya!

I ead upwards and across on the rising ledge, the cable on my right but nt needed, a big verical drop on my left. A lttle nervy but that is aprt of the fun.

I climb up the last rocky slope and onto the saddle on the main ridge which flat and open. This is at about 1600 metres. Elation. And the distant bgger mountains to te south are particularly clear today.

I spend some minutes contemplating whether to go east (more interesting but more time) or west and oer Hochgrat. I decide onthe shorter route and head off jogging along the ridge on this great day in this great place.

On top of Hochgrat (High Ridge) I take photos of some of the mountain places I have visited at other times - places which are still snowed in at the moment. I then jog off down the hill and back to the car. Mountain running is one of my very favourite things to do. It brings me alot of happiness!

I drive home have some lunch and we head to Kempten. Zita does more shopping and I do some internetting. We get home at 8pm for a late dinner. I play guitar for an hour and then write this up.

The trip this morning was so great wish I could share it with good running mates from NZ - Simon, Rob, Jim. I think they might quite like it.