This photo above was taken earlier in the week and the photo below taken 2 days later. Thick cloud was shrouding the valley but we decided to take the chair-lift up into the mountains anyway. And it was beautiful and clear as we were above the clouds, the only disappointment, we couldn't see down into the valley.

Next day we took the same chair-lift and hiked a long narrow valley with high mountains rising each side. 14km round trip that took us almost 5 hours. The destination of most along this valley is a hut that sits high above the valley floor but we were content to just walk until we had had enough. Too early in the trip to be aiming too high.

The hut becomes visible for the first time. It sits along the dark ridge just below the 'v' of snow in the middle of the photo.

            As we walk deeper into the valley, we look back at a cafe positioned half way to the hut.

        Looking down to the village of Partenen, at the bottom of the mountain pass into the valley.

                                           Looking down to Gaschurn where we are staying.

                                                       Our rental car. A Nissan Juke.

Another day and another hike. Just for something different!! We drove to Partenen and took another chair-lift and a walk to a spectacular location at the top of the pass, Bielehohe. We drove through on our way to the apartment on the day we arrived, but we didn't stop as I knew that I would have to come back to this amazing place. The path started with a 2.5km walk through a narrow, damp, but well-lit tunnel. A bit scary so we didn't linger too long.

                                                      Pleased to be out of the tunnel at last.

                         To this view!! 2 dams of which this is the lower and Bielehohe is the higher.

Leaving the lower dam behind. The majority of the pass to the valley lies below this dam and has 29 hair-pin bends before arriving at Partenen.

                            Heading to Bielehohe along a rougher and much more interesting track

This is the what is called traffic congestion in the valley. This is the road to/from the pass. Not sure who has right-of-way.

And finally we arrive at Bielehohe. As if you couldn't guess that the place is alive with motorcyclists. 29 hair-pin bends to one dam an another 5 to Bielehohe make it a huge attraction for the valley. Plus an amazing place.

                                   Not sure which saddle this guy has spent too much time in.

                                                             View from the dam wall.

                                 Looking back to a hut that we passed on our walk to Bielehohe

                                                               The dam wall.

On the left of the ridge in the middle of the photo is the path for a walk that we will do before we leave. We caught the bus back down the pass and to our apartment at Gaschurn.

Next day we caught a 7.30am bus (the only bus for the day that goes to this spot) to Kopsee. Kopsee is in another valley but the walk is over the mountains and back to a chair-lift that will take us down to Partenen.
The bus trip took over an hour, is part of the card we bought and we were the only ones on the bus.I will have to ask how much the trip would normally cost.

                            This is a view from the trail looking across to the pass to Bielehohe

                                                                       An alm along the trail.

                                  Looking back to Kopsee where we started the hike and the dam wall.

                                                          Another small lake along the way.

                   More views of the pass and the lower dam at the top of the pass from yesterday's hike.

Having a great time and getting the legs working a bit better each day. But having a few rest days in between each hike which we have never had to do before. We have had a day trip via bus and train (again part of our card) to the major city in the valley, Bludenz. And while we sat waiting for the train to take us back home, both of us (and this is unusual for Ray) commented on the amazing mountains on display and we are planning to drive back and do a hike here before we leave.