It was a holiday day today (Ascension Day) so work/school was out, and although we'd planned to go camping in Italy for a long weekend, we settled for an easy day out in the hills. When we got there however, we wished we hadn't! Weather was freezing, and we were unprepared after leaving a warm Zürich, and I had to borrow a jacket off one of the cable car staff (literally off her back) before I could even contemplate the walk to the Stäuer waterfall that we'd chosen to do. The cable car tipped us out in the clouds and we immediately got hailed on. But the 10 km walk ahead of us was all downhill and the kids didn't seem to mind the rain so we left the comfort and warm coffee of the restaurant (with park), and carried on regardless . . . .
There were quite a lot of spring flowers to see already, but a lot of the gentians were shut tight in the cold. These ones weren't . . .
The Stäuber waterfall was only 3 km away from the start, and Ili was off like a rocket (doesn't like anyone to overtake her!).
The waterfall was impressive, but too cold to hang around for long. And as we headed downhill the walk followed the river and tributary streams until finally the sun came out and we could at last see beyond the cloud and were able to spend some time boulder hopping and making pools. The world changed . . . we thawed out, Papa could forget he had only had shorts on, and the views were awesome. Found a great spot to make a pool. . . .
There were quite a lot of spring flowers to see already, but a lot of the gentians were shut tight in the cold. These ones weren't . . .
The Stäuber waterfall was only 3 km away from the start, and Ili was off like a rocket (doesn't like anyone to overtake her!).
The waterfall was impressive, but too cold to hang around for long. And as we headed downhill the walk followed the river and tributary streams until finally the sun came out and we could at last see beyond the cloud and were able to spend some time boulder hopping and making pools. The world changed . . . we thawed out, Papa could forget he had only had shorts on, and the views were awesome. Found a great spot to make a pool. . . .
Ili tests her balance . . . and does her Heidi impression.
Stopped further downstream to build stone towers. . .
After walking through the woods, about 7 km into the walk, the meadows at the bottom were particularly beautiful. . . .
. . . the kids collected beetles, caterpillars and other beasties on the way (Bea will take the caterpillars to school as they have a butterfly theme), and we even saw a marmot! Both children walked amazing over what was just short of 10 kilometers, on often rocky terrain, without a grumble.
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