Day 17 – Admont to Spital al Pyhrn

Daily Distance – 18km
Daily Ascent – 680m
Daily Descent – 674m
Total Distance – 257km
Distance Remaining – 756km

The highlight of today has been walking through Dr Vogelsang gorge. The second longest gorge in Austria, it’s development as a protected area with walkway was the work of the titular Dr Vogelsang. Built in 1906, washed away by high waters in 1908, and rebuilt in the 20s, it is still impressive even today. I don’t envy the people whose job it was to construct the walkways on the hard stone walls of the ravine. Those walls are pretty steep, but I’m glad that they seem to have done their jobs well.

Otherwise, today’s walking has been unremarkable. That sounds like a criticism, but is sometimes exactly what is required. No dramas, hardships or epic ascents, just a day where the uphills are in the morning and the walking is smooth. Tomorrow heads back into more alpine terrain in the cheerily titled “Totes Gebirge” (Dead Mountains) and features 1700m of ascent. I haven’t yet decided whether to take a cheat and shave 600m off of this by taking the mountain railway. The weather forecast is quite changeable, currently predicting mild storms at intervals throughout the day. As the highest point of tomorrow is the summit of Toter Mann (Dead Man) at 2284m, I do find this more of a concern than if I were staying lower. I will see how tomorrow looks and decide then.

In addition to being Via Alpina day 1, today is also university results day. I am happy to report than one more year is now successfully completed and I remain on track to finish the degree at some point before retirement. Aided immeasurably by the fact that retirement will probably be a laughably antiquated notion by the time I hit 67. I fear it is only a matter of time before the governments of Europe revise the retirement age to a fixed, one day after death. About the same time as cremating people has been added to the electricity generation grid as it can be counted as a renewable fuel source. Dystopian predictions for the future aside, I hope to finish the degree in another five years of (very) part-time study. Definitely over half way now and the courses become more interesting as they become more involved.

Anyway, that’s not really walk related, but nonetheless a happy home life event for the day.