Wednesday 21st August

Today we will tackle our biggest hike so far. 14km and total height gain of over 800 metres. A huge advance from the 240m on my first day where I nearly collapsed. So I planned the day with some trepidation. We caught the bus to Bielerhohe at the top of the pass and embarked on our hike to Wiesbadener Hutte , up and across Ratsattel  and back to Bielerhohe via Bieltal Valley.

                                Early morning start along edge of the Silvretta-Stausee at Bielerhohe

             The glacier that you can see on the left is just above Wiesbadener Hutte, our first destination

                                           Looking back along the trail we had just walked

                                                Our first sighting of Wiesbadener Hutte

        Having a breather and an apfel-strudel for fortify the body for the slog ahead. Over Ratsattel.

                                           Looking back at the hut, part way up to Ratsattel.

      Two marmots sat on a rock sunning themselves and didn't seem to be bothered by us at all.

The one on the top of the rock was so cute, he just sat there with his front legs crossed, so relaxed.

 
A last look at the mountains above the hut before we go over Ratsattel. The hike to the hut is graded medium while the hike up to Ratsattel and down the other side is graded difficult. And believe me it was a hard slog. Giant boulders with no real trail and steeply down. At one stage we ended at an enormous drop and had to go back up to find another way down. Very hard going. So no piccies. All concentration for this part of the hike.

Nearing the bottom of the valley and our first sighting of the Silvretta-Stausee. What a relief!! 6 hours and my feet were killing me. And still another 30 minutes to the bus. But what an achievement! And I am so glad that we did it. An awesome hike in stunning surroundings.

Not sure that I will be planning anything major for tomorrow. Will have to wait and see how the body pulls up.