Back on the "Dreamway" 2015

In September 2015 I was back in the Alps doing final research for my 2nd guide - "Munich to Venice - the Dreamway'.  I was on my own, Christine was stuck in Brighton nursing a broken foot, but the trip was a great success and provided some new perspectives on the Munich Venice experience.  So what did I learn.

Firstly a year can make a big difference.  Last year was exceptional, the worst weather in living memory and snow lingered on the passes in late August.  I'm not sure if this year was normal, but the weather was perfect.  Instead of snow fields, streams swollen with melted water where this year's challenge.   Last year's trip was fantastic but the 'Dreamway' in the sunshine is even better.

Junsee 2014

Junsee 2015

Secondly Munich to Venice is a good trip for solo walkers.  Now I know what it's like walking on your own - I walked most of Tarifa to Budapest trip alone - but it's a different experience on a popular route like Munich to Venice staying in crowded huts where everyone speaks German. Sometimes you can feel uncomfortably conspicuous alone in a crowd.  On the Dreamway this wasn't a problem - the Germans speak English, there were other solo walkers and the common interest in walking meant that conversation and associations came easily.  Socially it was great fun.

St Daniel

Dear Christine, it's now Wednesday, I've finished my exploration of the Karnischer Höhenweg and I'm holed up in a hotel down in the valley.  I've come down a day early, the weather is terrible, I've got stiff legs, a headache, sore throat and I'm feeling sorry myself.  Hopefully by the time I've completed a slow journey back to Brighton I'll be fighting fit again. 

Machine gun post just above the Plöckenpass

Despite the weather the last three days hasn't been a complete waste of time.  In particular I've filled in gaps in my knowledge about the alignment of the front in First World War which will help enormously when it comes to preparing the Karnischer Höhenweg guide. 

Arnoldstein

Dear Christine, would like to say 'wish you were here' but if you had been you would been like a bear with a sore head. I'm in Arnoldstein, it's Monday morning, and I've had a night disturbed by young people in the street playing music until 4 in the morning, not the sort of thing you expect when walking in the mountains.

Low clouds across the valley

Gasthof Valentinalm

Dear Christine, apologies for the lack of an update but for some reason I'm in the dark zone as far as WiFi or even telecommunications are concerned, it's very frustrating.  Occasionally I'll cross a pass or go round a corner and my phone will explode into life with queued up emails and texts only to go quite again minutes later. 

Austria's highest mountain

Well I'm making good progress and although today I'm not where I expected to be I'm discovering some really good stuff about the walk. 

Wonderful ridge walk

Porze Hütte

Dear Christine hope I didn't sound too miserable last night.  There was just so much snow falling I was certain that I would be staying in the Obstansersee-hütte for a third day with my journey along the Karnischer Höhenweg completely stalled.  Things turned out far better than I could have hoped and victory has been pulled from the jaws of defeat.

Snow, snow and more snow

Across the valley from the Obstansersee-hütte

To the Obstansersee-hütte

Dear Christine.  Things have moved on since my last blog and I'm now enjoying my 2nd night at the Obstansersee-hütte about 8 hours along the Karnischer Höhenweg.  The weather is dreadful, but you'll be pleased to know that I stuck with my research schedule for an English language guide to the walk and did an 8 circular walk in rain and snow. To make up for the fact that I couldn't see more than about 5 metres ahead of me I spent most of the day listening to David Nicholls' 'One Day', very good but sentimental and I'm not sure if would like it.

Early morning views of Sextner Dolomites

Two of the Drei Zinnen

Looking NE from the ridge

To Belluno

Dear Christine, I'm now in Sillian in a very comfortable hotel preparing to take on the Karnischer Höhenweg. Since leaving Stein four days ago I've traveled to Passo Duran, crossed the Schiara-Gruppe, walked down to Belluno and journeyed by bus and train across to Sillian. I quite like mixing up a bit of travel with the walking, I love it when all the different bits come together.

Mt Pelmo