4.8.2019: Zillertal´s "High Road"
Between the villages Ried and Aschau, a narrow tarmac road leads up to about 1.800 m asl, into the ski area of Hochzillertal. The cable railway is not operating in summer, so we have to use this road to get up.
We find one of the last places on a huge car park above a reservoir for artificial snow.
Fine view from here to the Three-thousanders of the Zillertal Alps, these to the far left on the border to the Hohe Tauern, presumably with the Reichenspitze (3.303 m).
Numerous funiculars and chair lifts - but no one operating.
We pass by the Mizunalm on our way to the Öfelerjoch (2.162 m)
Flowers near the beck ...
Great Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) has started to flourish.
Alpine sow-thistle (Cicerbita alpina)
Great Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium)
View over the Ziller dale to the opposite, eastern side.
Adenostyles alliariae (Adenostyles alliariae).
Adenostyles alliariae (Adenostyles alliariae).
Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)
Reaching the summit soon.
On our arrival on the Öfelerjoch ...
... we experience a wonderful mountain panorama. Click here or into the picture for a larger display.
The glacier ski area of Hintertux with the Olperer (3.476 m) in behind.
Not sure about the other mountains ...
I walk around the summit.
Alpine sow-thistle (Cicerbita alpina)
Another Zillertal panorama, take a bit beneath the Kristallhütte on the Öfelerjoch. Click here or into the picture for a larger display.
Lots of Mountain Arnica (Arnica montana) in the grassland.
View to the east - Reichenspitze?
Mountain Arnica (Arnica montana) with a hoverfly as a visitor.
Mountain Arnica (Arnica montana)
Mountain Arnica (Arnica montana)
Mountain Arnica (Arnica montana)
A last panorama, once more from beneath the Kristallhütte on the Öfelerjoch. Click here or into the picture for a larger display.
We treat ourselves with coffee and apple strudel Apselstrudel on the sun terrace of the Kristallhütte.
We pass by this idyllic little pond on our -somewhat different - descent route.
"Feeding the predators"
On the further descent Common bistort (Bistorta officinalis) in a wet place.
Common bistort (Bistorta officinalis)
Common bistort (Bistorta officinalis)
Spotted gentian (Gentiana punctata) - a single exemplar.
Back to the Mizunalm.
The (completely artificial) slope between the car park and the reservoir for artificial snow ...
... is covered with thousands of Common spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza Fuchsii)
Common spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza Fuchsii)
