2004 - Oetztal Alps

In August 2004 we went to the Alps for the second time. The choice fell on the Oetztal valley, home to the second peak in Austria - Wildspitze 3,774 m. On the website of the town of Soelden, which is the tourist center of the Oetztal valley, I found information about the possibility of purchasing a residence card. It cost 48 euros but included the use of buses, cable cars, swimming pools and museums for 5 consecutive days. At the TUI office I found an apartment in the center of Soelden.

14.08.2004 Travel from Katowice to Soelden

We arrived to Soelden in the evening and bought 5-day stay cards valid from the next day.


Soelden - nice town			^{The view from our balcony}

15.08.2004 Deep into the Tiefenbach valley

In the morning at 6 am we wake up and then quickly walk to the initial bus stop. We thought the bus might be crowded, but it was a surprise - we were the only ones getting on at this stop. The bus took us from Soelden, which is located at an altitude of 1,300 m, deep into the Tiefenbach valley to an altitude of almost 2,800 m. At the penultimate stop, everyone got off except us, and the driver explained to us that everything was closed where we were going. Finally he took us to the end. Indeed, the cable car station building was closed. It was cold. We dressed warmly and started walking down the valley. We didn't meet anyone on the trail. Only low in the valley at the tourist station did the merry company eat and sing together a regional band playing for them. In the early afternoon we were back inSoelden. Then dinner and in the evening to the swimming pool. We repeated this daily schedule on subsequent days.


Last bus station	The beginning of the trail	A valley after a glacial karst

The camera tilted	Sheep	Long descent

Tourist station	Huts	Almost in Soelden	Shrine

16.08.2004 - Gaislachkogel (3056 m) - the first three-thousander in my life

A gondola trip to the first three-thousander in my life - Gaislachkogel - 3056 m above sea level At the top, have a small beer to celebrate crossing the three-thousand-meter mark for the first time in your life, and then go down the trail leading past a nice Geislacher See lakes. Swimming pool in the evening.


View from the cable car	Geislachkogel	Viewing platform	We're going down

Geislacher See lake			Little flower

View to the south	Another tourist station	Huts	View to the south

17.08.2004 - Schwarze Schneid (3340 m)

In the morning we take the same bus as on the first day. This time, like everyone else, we get off at the penultimate stop. There we change to a gondola lift that takes us to an altitude of 3,250 m. From here, skiers go down the glacier. We were a bit sorry that we didn't have skis. Ahead of us is the peak, which we climb up through the snow for another 100 m. Beautiful panorama around. Sometimes the Wildspitze loomed in the fog and seemed not much taller than us. Descent from the peak to the cable car, down by cable car and back by bus. In the afternoon we went to visit an improvised open-air museum from the Ice Age. Swimming pool in the evening.


Bus route	Penultimate stop	By cable car to Schwarze Schnee

Through the snow to the top	On the viewing platform		View to the north-west

Wildspitze in the distance	Descent from the top	The upper cable car station	Cable car down

18.08.2004 - Wildes Mannle (3023 m)

The most ambitious trip. By bus, which is a bit crowded this time, we go to Vent (1895 m), located high in the western branch of the Oetztal valley. From there, take a chairlift to 2,356 m, and then arduous climbing to another three-thousander. We chose this trail out of many possible trails in the Oetztal valley because I read in the guidebook that it is one of the hundred most beautiful alpine trails. The aim of the expedition was the peak neighboring Wildspitze called Wildes Mannle (3023 m). The trail is beautiful and popular, because we meet a lot of tourists. When descending from the peak, we choose an attractive variant leading with a long bend or a chimney. We pass under the glacier and reach the Breslauer Hute. Then descend to Vent and return by bus to Soelden. In the evening, we soaked our tired legs in the pool.


Vent from the cable car	On the way to Wildes Mannle

The glacier under Wildspitze	At the top of Wildes Mannle		Descent

Descent	Descent through a rock jam	Ridge	Glacier tongue

Glacier stream	Traverse	Breslauer Hute	Metal bridge

19.08.2004 - From the Timmelsjoch Pass (2,474 m) to Soelden

We start by taking a bus even higher into the Oetztal valley to the town ofObergurgllocated at an altitude of 1,907 m above sea level. From there, we take a chairlift to the Hohe Mut hill to an altitude of 2,653 m to admire the three-thousanders closing the Oetztal valley from the southeast. Then take the cable car and continue by bus to theTimmelsjochpass (2,474 m) on the border with Italy. Then descend to Soelden itself. Very long, but that's okay - this is the last trip.