Last Saturday I spend a few nice hours hiking up and down Brünnstein. Initially the trail was pretty level with just a few trees around it, plenty of opportunity to enjoy the morning sun. The air was still cool but not cool enough to keep us from sweating once the ascent began. We pass a few houses and take a short break to soak in the sun and enjoy the panorama.
According to the calendar spring started more than a week ago. Closer to the parking lot it sure looked like spring but after a few hundred meters of climbing it was getting cold. We encountered multiple patches of snow on our way up, some of them pretty big and with 50cm or more of snow still on the trail. Most of the snow was already pretty solid and it was easy to get over it. I stopped paying attention and was immediately punished. My right foot stepped on a patch of softer snow, sunk in about 30cm and I hyper-extended my knee. Every step hurt for the next few meters but it got better quickly and we were able to go on.
The only other tricky bit on the way up to was a tiny bridge just a few meters before we reached the Brünnsteinhaus. Looking down is a little scary but totally safe. A few other hikers were already sitting in the sun in front of the Brünnsteinhaus when we reach it, having lunch. There were not many choices on the menu but a Schnitzel was all I needed anyway.
After the excellent meal we went on to the summit. Right next to the hut a Klettersteig goes the short route up to the summit. We ask the owner about the condition and he recommends not to take it so we take the long way up. Even the long way is steep and the last few meters are secured with fixed ropes. When we reach the summit a few thin clouds cover the skies and we don’t get the same clear view we had earlier today. But it’s still a pretty good view. After a few minutes two groups come up to the summit by Klettersteig and looking at them we decide that it can’t be that hard and take the short way down.
We guessed right. There is not a single patch of ice or snow on the trail until we reach the Brünnsteinhaus again. I guess the owner was just too cautious.
We take the shorter and steeper trail down to Buchau. The trail is in pretty bad condition and sometimes it’s hard to even see where we should go but there are enough markers on the trees. In the shadow we encounter a few more patches of snow and I’m awkward enough to extend my knee again. This time it hurts more and it takes longer until it gets better. I don’t really have a choice so we go on. Fortunately it’s not very far and the quality of the trail improves again. It takes us another hour until we get back to the car. My knee kept hurting for another two days but it was still a nice hike.
Created by My Tracks on Android.
Total Distance: 17.50 km (10.9 mi)
Total Time: 5:30:49
Moving Time: 3:19:06
Average Speed: 3.18 km/h (2.0 mi/h)
Average Moving Speed: 5.27 km/h (3.3 mi/h)
Max Speed: 9.90 km/h (6.2 mi/h)
Min Elevation: 738 m (2420 ft)
Max Elevation: 1669 m (5476 ft)
Elevation Gain: 1085 m (3561 ft)
Max Grade: 30 %
Min Grade: -31 %
Recorded: Sat Apr 03 11:11:02 GMT+02:00 2010