Today was the first day we had really bad weather. Shitty weather, in fact. 😢 So, for the first time we had no chance at all to stick to the way planned. But let’s start earlier…
Actually, at first we slept quite well but the only other guests at the Lärchenhütte, 3 girls from Salzburg, went to the common bathroom/WC at least 6 times during the night’s hours which woke us every single time!
Also, some time in the night heavy rain and thunderstorms began. In the early morning at around 4.30 a.m. it became so intense that I was woken by something trickling into my face. At first I thought to dream but then I realised that the roof must obviously be having a leak! I rolled over to Felix’ side of the bed but by then we were quite awake. The rain was so heavy that we weren’t sure whether the rushing sound came from the nearby river or the rain.
As soon as we tried to sleep again one of the other guests went to the WC again. In addition, we had no electricity because some of the batteries that save the electricity from the solar pannels of the hut were not properly working. The generator was of course switched off during the night. Thankfully, we had provided for similiar things and had packed a small head light, the e+ lite from Petzl.
When, at 5.30 a.m., it was clear that sleeping was not possible anymore I got up and into the bathroom with my perfectly working head light. 😉
Up to the evening before we hoped to be able to do the planned route today but with what was going on now outside we had to admit that hiking around in the alpine region at 2000-2300m was definitely not a good idea anymore. So we planned our way down directly to Bad Kleinkirchheim in only 8km. Though I was very sad because this would have been a gorgeous hiking route! 😣😞😢
Shortly after 7 a.m. we went down in the search of a breakfast. We told our landlady Heidi about the leak in the roof and she was thunderstruck. Obviously the rain must have come inside through the chimney somewhere because with the renovation of the guest rooms the roof was also renovated.
Anyway, we couldn’t changed neither the lack of the night’s sleep nor the rain so we decided that we could at least have a decent breakfast. 😉 We had great homemade bread, butter and blueberry jam and honey from the innkeepers’ own bees and also some eggs. And loads of coffee. ☕☕☕
By then the intensity of the rain hadn’t changed a bit and every once in a while a thunderstorm passed over. Well, time to test our heavy rain equipment! We put on the gaiters over our hiking boots and our “Kraxenponcho” by Wäfo (rain poncho that also covers the backpack). And off we went in the heavy rain looking like freaks out of some mountain cave. 😂
In fact, the path down to Bad Kleinkirchheim was so very pretty, even in the rain. It led through the beautiful forest on a very moderate descent and nearly no asphalt road (only in the end when entering Bad Kleinkirchheim). Everything smelled so great in the dampness of the rain and if it wasn’t for all the rain pouring down on us and lightening and thunder rumbling above us it would have been really enjoyable.
The nice creek St.-Oswald-Bach through the forest was right now a rapid stream after all the rain throughout the night and the morning. Actually, it was an awesome spectacle of nature to hike through this weather.
Nonetheless, we were quite relieved after having reached our accomodation in Bad Kleinkirchheim after one and a half hour and 8,2km later.
The landlady of Pension Grasser was incredibly nice when we two appeared on her doorstep and helped us to find dry space for the ponchos, gaiters and shoes. Overall, we were definitely satisfied with the equipment! The poncho kept everything dry underneath (although you might sweat a bit because of the water-repellent material 😉) and the gaiters worked really fine. I would have expected to be soaked in my shoes but it was just a little damp, and I suppose this was more due to sweating than rain. 😉
After we have changed our clothes we decided to head to the thermal bath St. Kathrein to get warm again. What we didn’t know was the fact that the bath was so new that it just opened on 8th July for some trial weeks until the end of July for half the price! There was a queue, and we had to wait at least 15 minutes to enter.
And man, there were many people in there! Many, many of them! We immediately went to the only area where no one below 16 years was allowed to enter and it was much quieter. The bath was quite nice though nothing special but we only paid 18 Euros for 2 hours for both of us so it was worth it!
Afterwards, we went to a café for coffee and cake and then to the local supermarket which meant walking 1km to and fro but on a nice “walking mile” (“Wandermeile”). Bad Kleinkirchheim is actually a pretty village with many nice and well maintained houses and it was fun walking around. Also, the rain had stopped for a bit which made us stop at a very special porch swing:
Then we went to the Pizzeria di Salvatore which was recommended by Heidi from the Lärchenhütte. And the pizza and espresso was really exceptionally good for not being in Italy! If you’re ever happen to come to Bad Kleinkirchheim go there!
Then it started to rain again and we decided to hide in our accomodation.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better hiking day! I’m already so longing to be outside again!!!
Some figures for today (more for the statistics then counting as hiking day):
- 8,2km
- 0m up
- 530m down
- Hiking time: 1h 30m