The Karwendel

Trip Start Jun 15, 2004
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Trip End Apr 03, 2005


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Flag of Austria  ,
Tuesday, August 3, 2004

After spending a night in Munich we caught the train to Scharnitz to start our backpack trip through the Karwendel Mountain range which runs along the border of Austria and Germany. Tenting was not allowed so Jacquie and I signed up for the Deutscher Alpenverein (the German Alpine Club) which gave us priority and cheaper rates on accomodation and food in the Mountain Huts throughout Europe. Off we went without the weight of a tent, sleeping bag or heavy food. Our 6 day tour took us from Scharnitz to Schwaz up and over and through the range. We ascended a total of 10,122 feet and descended 11,519 feet over about 50 km's. The terrain was amazing. There were ladders bolted into the rock to climb and descend the really steep bits, cables bolted into the rock walls to assist as we climbed along rock walls and even a couple of places where some good soul had bolted gym climbing holds onto the rock face as a bit of an assist. There were also huge, expansive scree slopes, high mountain meadows and alpine flowers galore 5 Dave & Jacquie walking down
5 Dave & Jacquie walking down
 . As far as wild life, it wasn't too wild. We saw chamois, sheep and cows. All very friendly. The huts were all built about 90 years ago and sleep between 30 and 180 people. All have differing levels of food service, one had a choice of veggie or non veggie soup/stew which was very tasty and filling. Others had full service menus offering many local favourites. Thanks for friends like Tobias and Benedict that we met along the way we sampled many of the offerings and we were never disappointed or left the table hungry. We stayed at at total of 5 hüttes before descending 4642 feet into Schwaz on our last day. We headed to Innsbruck from Schwaz and after 6 days in the heat climbing up and down mountain passes we were surprised that no one wanted to sit beside us on the train. We found a good campsite in Innsbruck where we will settle in to relax and do some much needed laundry. Hopefully the pictures that we attach to this segment can do the trip justice.

The Alps are amazing and we recommend that you all make the trip.

Take good care,

Love J&D
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