Tag Archive for: Mountains

Kitesurfer on Lake Chiemsee at Sunset

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A kite surfer on Lake Chiemsee in front of the evening glow at sunset in spring, Bavaria, Germany

Easter Sunday on Lake Chiemsee was sunny and warm. The first brave swimmers ventured into the still-cool water. Above the sunbathing lawns on the shore near Seebruck, plumes of smoke rose from the numerous barbecues of many groups of friends and extended families. They had gathered here in large numbers, drawn by the spring-like weather. Towards evening, however, a strong wind picked up, driving away the sunbathers and barbecue enthusiasts, but attracting a few local kitesurfers. Read more

Chapf Viewpoint: Alpine panorama over Lake Walen

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Sunset over Lake Walen at the Chapf viewpoint, Amden, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland

I’ve been coming to Amden to ski for over 20 years, but it wasn’t until this winter that I took the short path to the Chapf viewpoint. It’s perched above a vertical cliff face, 800 metres above the northern shore of Lake Walen. Above the rocks, which were already noticeably warmed by the spring sun, you could clearly see how spring was already moving into the valleys and southern slopes with the first delicate green, while the wintry conditions with snow and ice in the high mountains were only slowly giving way. Read more

Hike to the Lamsenjochhütte

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View from the western Lamsenjoch to the eastern Lamsenjoch with the Lamsenjochhütte under snow-capped peaks of the Karwendel in autumn, Tyrol, Austria

I’ll start this article with the end of this short tour in the Karwendel. That’s when I saw the happy faces of a hiking group from Landsberg am Lech at the bus stop at Ahornboden. After a great tour via the Falkenhütte and Lamsenjochhütte, they experienced another highlight of their hike that morning on the summit of the Hahnenkampl (2,080 m). The clouds broke just as they were crossing the summit.
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The last day of summer dawns

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Sunrise over the Kaiser Mountains on the summit of Hinteres Sonnwendjoch, Tyrol, Austria

At the summit of the Hinteres Sonnwendjoch, I wait at dawn for the sunrise over the Kaiser Mountains in Tyrol. This would be the last hot summer’s day of the year. Just a few days later, around a metre of snow fell here and on the Ackernalm with the first cold front, ushering in autumn quite abruptly and intensely. Read more

Scrub Clearance on the Roßalm

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Alpine pasture clearing on the Roßalm in summer 2024, Chiemgau, Bavaria, Germany

During my last visit to the Bavarian Alps, I learned an old word: Schwenden. Schwenden is an old method of maintaining alpine pastures. It involves the laborious manual removal of unwanted bushes, shrubs, or young trees, especially mountain pines and alpine roses. This keeps the alpine meadows open as grazing areas for livestock. Read more

Vernet-les-Bains – charming atmosphere and spectacular nature

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Clouds and mist over the old town of Vernet-les-Bains in front of the mountains of the French Pyrenees at sunrise, Occitania, France

After Prats-de-Mollo, Vernet-les-Bains was our second secluded destination at the foot of the imposing Canigou Massif in the French Pyrenees. Known as a health resort with a mild microclimate and thermal springs, it’s a perfect place for relaxation, culture, and outdoor adventures. The days when the town was fully booked with spa guests and summer visitors escaping the hot lowlands and coast are long gone. In the old town, rural depopulation is evident with many empty buildings. Nevertheless, Vernet-les-Bains combines charming atmosphere, historical sites, and spectacular nature, seclusion and tranquillity. This was exactly the mix we had hoped for. Read more

Nature and Culture in Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste

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View of the old town of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste against the mountains of the French Pyrenees, Occitania, France

From Céret, we followed the Tech valley further into the Pyrenees. In Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, we found a cosy campsite run by the local council. French municipal campsites are often simply equipped but clean and, above all, authentic: when we arrived, the operators were playing boules with their guests and welcomed us in a very relaxed manner – first, settle in and choose a pitch, the formalities can be sorted out later. Read more