Sabine Ammering - photo by Nigel A JAMES
“Brad'l
in der Rein”
The
Austrian mountains are full of surprises, and the best ones of all
are the ones reached by ways of expected suspense. It was just
after Christmas. We were a small group of 5, and the sometimes hard -
and sometimes easy - one hour upward winding trek through the cold
winter darkening forest provided just the right feeling of thrill for
where we were going. And the magic arrived at a turn in the forest!
By
now we had switched on our torches and lamps. The darkness was
total, and the going, because of ice under foot was slow and we had
to be careful. But then came the lights of a hut! Like welcoming
beacons, they were shining out from the darkness and calling us on!
And there was our goal, the Hochsteinalm and its hut - and only ten
more minutes to go. And, thanks to the trek and the cold mountain air
we were hungry. And it was worth every step!
One
can only reach the Hochsteinalm by foot, and this is its charm. Being
away from the smell and the noise of everyday life it has all that
everyone needs. There is the peace of the forest, there is the calm
of the silence, and, at the hut there is food! And this is
sensational!
Whilst
Sepp Ammering the land-lord was busying himself with his guests, his
wife Sabina whose mother was a cook before her was creating
incredible food in the kitchen. And, that which we chose was
sensational. It was a typical Upper-Austrian dish called “Brad'l
in der Rein” which roughly translated means pork, potatoe
dumplings, and cabbage all roasted together in the same dish in the
oven. A dish just right for the fine cosy atmosphere of this hut.
Of course, there isn't only roast pork, there are other things too,
but, whatever your choice, everything is good, and the Schnaps
that round off the evening are just the right thing for the going
back down the mountain. And, here, too, there's a choice. If there's
enough snow you can either go down by sledge or carefully walk, and,
if you're too tired or simply too lazy, there are comfortable rooms
to be had, too.
But,
of course, there's much more to the Hochsteinalm than just fine
mountain food on cold winter nights. It's not only a wonderful place
for hiking in summer, it's also home to an assorted menagerie of
interesting animals. It has something for everyone and especially for
children. For them there's something behind every tree! The
Hochsteinalm near Gmunden and Traunkirchen in Upper Austria is a
great place to go! Maybe, one day we'll meet on the Alm!
Brad'l in der Rein - by Nigel A JAMES
For
more details,- www.hochsteinalm.at
..
Picture Post
(for full size - please click onto picture)
Mountain track with the Traunstein in the backgound.
Salzkammergut - Austria - January 2014
Salzkammergut - Austria - January 2014
Cycling Home - Oberweiss - Salzkammergut
Freddy's Farm House near Oberweiss.
Maxi waiting for dinner at the Hochsteinalm!
Hochsteinalm Tradition!
A Sunny High-up!
All pictures by Nigel A JAMES
All pictures by Nigel A JAMES
.
