I have to admit, I’ve found it quite difficult to keep up the momentum with the exercise program, what with all the fabulous food & beer in Europe and so much time sitting on buses. But I have been walking several hours per day, sometimes up to five or six hours all over different cities, enjoying the sights and trying to blend in with the locals. But unfortunately, as far as trek training goes, walking just aint gonna cut it!
So, I have tried to get in as much hiking as possible whilst in the vicinity of the alps. I did some fabulous walks in the Swiss alps, including a huge 3 hour uphill hike from Lauterbrünnen (near Interlaken) to Mürren – there were moments where I really thought I was going to die of exhaustion, but I followed a friend’s advice and just kept putting one foot in front of the other, and eventually made it to the top and was met with the most incredible view...
Unfortunately my camera spat the dummy and I lost most of my photos from Switzerland, but this one was taken at the start of the walk and gives a hint of what the view was like from the top.
So after Switzerland there was a brief stop in Munich for some more beer (mmmmmmm!), then on to Austria for more hiking in the alps. Last week I completed without a doubt the most challenging hike I have ever attempted. Over several hours of huffing, puffing and cursing, I climbed Hafelekarspitze, above the lovely city of Innsbruck – I reached the summit of 2334m in around 3 ½ hours (with the odd break here & there to let my heart rate drop away from danger zone and ask myself who’s bright idea this was?!), and again completely exhausted but feeling triumphant, I was overcome by the magnificent view before me:
I then decided I hadn’t had quite enough pain just yet, so I decided to keep going. I walked along the ridge (which on the map looked relatively flat, but I guarantee you it was definitely not, there were plenty of good ups & downs!) to Pfeiser Spitze, at 2347m. It was basically a mountain goat trail, at times not more than 30cm wide – place one foot wrongly and you’d go tumbling down the mountain to your death!
Mum & Grandma, cover your eyes!! :-)
After stopping for a picturesque picnic lunch,
... I eventually reached the little mountain hut at Pfeiser, then realised if I was going to make it back to Innsbruck in daylight I had better get a move on. So I was about to head back the way I came, when I passed some people who suggested you could go straight down from where I was and walk across a path lower down the mountain back to Innsbruck. They looked at my expensive hiking boots and said “you’ve got good shoes, you’ll be fine”... Well, I should have taken that as a warning of what was to come. It turns out the path down from Pfeiser was literally a scramble down a rock scree for several hours at an angle of, well I’m guessing at least 45 degrees, no exaggeration.... I’m calling it “Death Hill”.
Here you can see Death Hill on the right hand side...
It was quite possibly the most ridiculously dangerous but awesomely exhilarating thing I have ever done. But my knees and thigh muscles were not thanking me for it the next day – I had terribly sore everything after that crazy adventure! But it was such an amazing experience that I’m sure I’ll never forget it!
After spending the following day recovering at the Baggersee Lake, two days later I decided to do another hike, but this time not quite so challenging, as my legs were still sore from Death Hill. It was another uphill challenge, but with some lovely rolling green meadows. We walked from Saint Jodok almost to the infamous Brenner Pass. The views were lovely and it was nice to get out of Innsbruck and see some of the surrounding valleys and towns.
So there you have it – proof that my training program is back on track. Although I feel that all the good food in Italy may stand in my way! The campsite I stayed at in Venice had a gym and I spent an hour in there each day, but that was an unusual luxury, which most hostels don’t offer.
Stay tuned to see if I can keep up the momentum... And thanks again to everyone for your support of this wonderful cause.
Over & out, Megs
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