Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas in the Fideriser Heuberge: Day 3

Today when we woke up we could actually see the mountains on the other side of the valley, crazy! After breakfast we decide to head up to the Glattwang and then from there down to Janaz.

The way up starts with the same crappy visibility we have been enjoying for the past couple of days, the only real difference is that we actually have a bit of a view in the distance. After some light climbing in the cold (-11C!) we get tired of not being able to see our feet and decide to cancel the last bit of climb and to just head down. Some very nice navigation work by Andrea gets us on the summer trail, which we're able to follow until we hit a trail made by ski touring folks heading up the mountain. This takes us the rest of the way down into Jenaz without problems.
Along the way Greg spots a least weasel (hermelin?) poking its head out of a hole in the snow. We end a few entertaining minutes watching the little guy pop up from one hole or another to check us out. Eventually he gets bored and stops coming up, so we head on.
Our arrival in Jenaz is perfectly timed to miss the train by ten minutes, so we pop into a gasthaus for hot beverages and to wait.

At times less than 100% pleasant conditions because of the cold and visibility but overall a nice day of snowshoeing.


Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas in the Fideriser Heuberge: Day 2

Awoke to weather that was no substantial improvement over the day before: Clouds and snow and not much in the way of visibility. After breakfast we opt for a rest and nap in the hopes that the afternoon will have better weather.

Plenty of rest later, we do lunch and then head out into the snow and clouds and low visibility for some fresh air. A bit of wandering around in the deep snow, a bit of here, a bit of there, some hither and yon and then we head back to the hotel for another well-earned (smirk) rest before heading down for drinks, games, and dinner.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas in the Fideriser Heuberge: Day 1



The original plan was to hike from the valley up to the hotel; unfortunately the weather made that unappealing: freezing rain in the valley and very low clouds... Yeachs!

No panic though, we called the hotel and asked them to pick us up with their bus and bring us up... Easy easy. After the adventurous bus ride up we check in and then put on the snowshoes and head out for a bit of exercise. The clouds are still super low and there's nothing to see, but at least it is snowing instead of raining. We head past the ski slopes and up hill a bit towards the Arflinafurgga before deciding that it's kind of pointless to be hiking towards a high point when there's nothing to see. The visibility is at that interesting, almost white-out stage where one can see the feet, but not really where you are putting them.
Fun for a while, kind of tiring after it's been going on for a bit. Fun part for Greg when he takes a step over an unseen edge and ends up sliding a good meter into a ditch.

On the way back we do a nice lunch break near a sheep hut and then make our way back to the hotel for a good rest before heading down to the restaurant for games and, eventually fondue. Very nice fondue chinoise, salad, fries, and dessert... Good eating in a really nice christmasy atmosphere. :-)

After the meal, to recover a bit, we did a nice night walk through the dark up the slopes a bit. Good to have the fresh air, but not really much to see... That's a theme of sorts.