Elderhostel Italian Dolomites and Austrian Alps Hiking Trip - May-2005

Although planned as a  leisurely paced venture, I confess that I found the hike pretty serious. It started along a gentle shore trail (left shore of picture below) with scenic views of the lake and mountain landscape. Lake boats cruised the lake stopping at various piers to let visitors off and on. One of our participants elected to catch a boat from our lunch site to a meeting place at the end of the hiking part of the trip. Easy to do.

Picnic lunch stop. Access by lake boat only....and of course
the lakeshore hiking trail.

After leaving our lunch site, we followed a trail that was carved out of the rock face overlooking the lake. Carved into the steep slopes above the lake, I had to keep a strict focus as where I placed my feet. Strategically placed cable to grab hold of helped and my walking stick was invaluable in helping keep my balance as we walked along this rugged lakeside trail with it many up/down rock stairs sections. Played havoc with my feet and knees but survived.  

  
  (Top) Trail hugs the steep rock face  (taken from boat on return trip)

  (Left)  Yours truly making use of handy support cables placed along the trail to help hikers from tumbling into the lake below.

At the end of the boat ride to the lower end of the lake, we boarded a rack and pinion steam narrow-gauge railway that makes the trip from the lake to the Inn River Valley in about 45-minutes. Super slow paced journey over about5 miles. At the end of the line, we boarded our bus for trip back to Seefeld.