July 12th
Itinerary: Pfälzer Hut – Sücka – Triesenberg – Triesen
Distance: 17,5 km
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes (plus 20 minutes for the stops)
Vertical distance: 170 m uphill; 1580 m downhill
It rained a lot during the night. In the morning, it was no longer raining but the sky was overcast with lots of clouds hiding the peaks. We decide to go down to the Rhine as directly as possible and leave the hut at 8.50 a.m. After 2 hours walking, we reach the Berggasthaus Sücka where we hope to have at least a coffee. A notice board announces that they are closed today due to a bereavement. Interesting view of Steg – houses and barns around a large rectangle of cultivated fields (see photo).
A short climb followed by a small tunnel takes us to the slopes overlooking the Rhine 1000 meters lower down. It is colder and there is still fog. A good path takes us to Triesenberg where we get a little lost among the villas and a fitness trail. It starts to rain slightly and we find the main road going down to Triesen in hairpin bends (no shortcuts or paths found, either on the map or in the field). It starts raining more and more strongly and is soon pelting down hard. Sally called me from Balzers where she has just arrived and I asked her to pick us up. Finally, we reach the first houses in Triesen and are able to shelter under trees, where Sally finds us, completely soaked, 1 km from the Rhine. We go to an inn for a snack and to dry out.
This marks the end of the mountain section between the Samnaun and the Rhine (Silvretta and Rätikon mountain ranges). My thanks to those that accompanied me – Sonia Roschnik, David Hefti, Christoph Brändle and Walter Roschnik and especially to Sally for the logistics!
Photos:
1. Steg, Liechtenstein
2. First view of the Rhine
We have been so lucky with the weather the last thee days, Rupert and I to walk and climb a scenic part of the border from Austria and Switzerland. The timing was finally – after a year – perfect. Starting in Schruns that I have visited about 16 years ago, Sally, Rupert and Christoph met in a nice Hotel Zimba to get prepared on Saturday. I was coming already on Friday night from far south Burgenland. I attended the summer academy in the Friedensburg or Peace Castle http://www.friedensburg.at . Great international lectures about religion & conflict. I left from there on Friday 8. at noon going back by car to Vienna to change my luggage and continued at 5:30 pm by train going across Austria to Bludenz far west town in the Region Vorarlberg where a arrived at 11:30pm. Lovely town famous for Suchard chocolate celebrating a chocolate festival on Saturday. That is my story behind the final meeting with Rupert and the start of our tracking from the Lünersee up to the great mountain SCHESAPLANA. Followed by the NAAFKOPF. We had a wonderful time together and good time to talk. I am very thankful to have this chance to make it with my brother on his great route around Switzerland! ?
Bravo Rupert !!
C’est magnifique!
sportivement Bea et Jean