4.8.2010 - from von Hintermuhr (Moritzenalm) to the Mur wells
We drive down into the Lungau and then up the Mur valley as long we may drive - until the parking ground sjortly before Moritzenalm at about 1.550 m altitude. From there, we walk further along the Mur valley, passing by Sticklerhuette (1.752 m), where the valley is bending to the left, up to the wells of the river Mur in about 1.950 m altitude.
After the parking ground, the gravel road crosses the beck over a bridge. Only a small amount of water in the Mur because part of it is branched off near Sticklerhuette to the water power station at Hintermuhr.
A small chapel at the Moritzenalm
Several small houses make up for Moritzenalm - here the path to the Karwasser lake branches off.
View back in the valley, with Zalussenalm (1.666 m).
A pink variant of the "sudetic" variant of yarrow (Achillea millefolium subsp. sudetica) which in fact grows not only in the Sudetic area, but also in the Alps.
Smll cascades at the young river Mur
Much water also coming down from the sides.
Yellow mountain saxifrage (Fetthennen - Steinbrech, Saxifraga aizoides) on the water - drenched slope near the road.
Another cascade coming down to the valley ...
... And maximally zooming in.
Arrived at the Sitckler hut. However, we proceed our walk without a pause.
The valley is now bendíng to the left and widens a bit. Here, the Mur has much more water - we are above the gallery that leads the water to the next valley.
A spring on the slope - water is here everywhere.
View back, at the curve of the valley is Sticklerhuette. In the background is Weißeck (2.711 m).
Weisseck (White summit) has its name from the fact that the summit region is built of limestone. When the Alps where elevated, there was an overall cover of limestone. Above the highest parts, however, the limestone is already nearly eroded - only nearly. A few "islands" are left. Other examples are Mosermandl, Steirische and Lungauer Kalkspitze or the Kalkkoegel near Innsbruck. Interestingly, there is a large layer of Fluorite (CaF2, in green and purple cubes) on the other side of the mountain, at the contact zone between limestone and crystalline rock.
Further on, heading for the head of the valley.
Once more the view back.
Nice view, isn´t it?
A small Mur - cascade.
Short video of the beck - just click on the link above.
The springs come closer.
Two becks together build up the young Mur, ...
... this one, coming over a small cascade from a bit above ...
... and this, the bigger one, running in a spectacular way out beneath a big rock - hence also called the "Murquelle" (Mur well).
The other beck comes from a bit above - I don´t walk so far now.
False helleborine (Veratrum album) is flowrishing here ...
... And Grauer Alpendost (Adenostyles alliariae)
Another view to Weisseck.
I like Weisseck too, says the cow.
The two offspring becks of the Mur.
A small, disused hut close to the offsprings.
The brave walkers.
On the way back.
Heading for Sticklerhuette.
Water, water, water ...
The area also is rich in quartz crystals. After a prolonged search at the beck, finding only a few very tiny crystals, Marlene found this one directly on the path - it had to be digged out of the soil. Roughly cleaned in the Mur, it still needs a brush.
Stickler - Alm close to Stickler hut.
Back at Sticklerhut. Now we take the time to eat a bit.
Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) close to the beck.