Really Playing for Pizza: Exploring our own backyard

JUMP PICTURE!

On Thursday, we were invited by our good friend Rush Bowers to join him for a hike up some local trails. It turned out that 9 of us were up for the challenge, and we headed about 15 minutes east of Innsbruck for a fabulous day in the local Alps. The experience taught me a funny yet valuable lesson - we have worked so hard to visit far away places, and yet some of the best are right beneath our own nose... as in our backyard!

Rush: A true alpine guide

As we followed Rush into the bush, I gave him the once over. Every authentic Alpine hiking guide must be equipped with certain elements: Hiking Boots? CHECK. Grey Socks? CHECK. German titanium-alloy ultra light hiking sticks? CHECK. Old baseball cap with sweat-stains? CHECK! Rush was ready to be our guide!

Nick powers his way up the mountain, but made sure to be dressed for coaching in case a game broke out at 8,000 feet.

Going vertical through the trees. (Wish I had sticks!)

The DUKE MAN was a champion on this walk! Although like the rest of us, I'm sure he was glad when we reached the meadow after an hour and a half of climbing.

RPP Note: All of us were hiking for honor of our comrade Paul down in Catania, who is on the 15-day IR after being hit by a car during one of his long jaunts. (True story - read George's blog for all the details).

The final push: Matt, Brian, Christie, and Ashley start sprinting. I am content to document the experience.

I made it! Time to BASK, in the most true sense of the word!

The fellas

And the ladies (color coordinated to match the ice cream flavor Spumoni)

Up ahead is the small alpine village (or collection of 5 buildings) above Gnadenwald. The white building is an "Alm" which is a sort of Alpine restaurant/bar.

When we reached our first goal, the meadow at the top of the mountain, we stopped to take pictures and just breathe the clean mountain air. We had been hiking for about an hour and a half, and covered approximately 6 km. I've tried to do my best to document it, but pictures truly don't do it justice! To the north side, the jagged peaks of the Alps cast a stunning backdrop and marked the border with Germany. To the south, you could see all the way down to the Inn River, and in the distance, the Brenner Pass to Italy. It was spectacular with a capital S!

CLICK THIS PICTURE TO MAKE IT BIG! I love the details on the lettering... this is my sure-fire "desktop wallpaper" of the day.

TRUE STORY #1: These are some great local bikers we met up in the meadow

TRUE STORY #2: They have hiked to the top of Mt. Rainier, which is in my own backyard in Seattle

TRUE STORY #3: She helped me order a delicious looking piece of bread with some sort of spread and onions. Turned out to be SWINE LARD... suddenly lost my appetite.

Christie was happy that even dogs love to hike!

Posing high above the meadow.

After grabbing some refreshments (and of course the bread covered with lard) we pushed on for about 20 minutes towards the Hinterhorn Alm. As we ascended, we passed some breathtaking scenery, finally ending up on a high ledge overlooking what to me looked like all of Europe. The entire walk, hang gliders circled around us, riding the warm thermals to jaw-dropping heights.

A lone hut is the last building on the meadow.

Lift-off!

Hang Glider prepares for take-off.

The Hinterhorn Alm

There is no direct English equivalent to the word ALM, and with good reason: it is purely an Alpine pleasure. The closest I can describe is that it is a seasonal building located high on a mountain that can be a restaurant, bar, resting point, scenic viewpoint, and everything in-between. The views are always spectacular, and the fresh air makes everything taste better. There are many alms located throughout the Austrian Alps, and after trying out my first I am excited to explore for more!

Our destination was the Hinterhorn Alm, which has a full kitchen serving Tirolean specialties, a few pasta dishes, and some amazing deserts! (If you go, be sure to get the strawberry strudel!) The views were incredible, and the hang gliders would circle just above our heads! Eventually, we made our way down, but this mountain top experience will stay with me for a long time!