Hiking with Martha - Summer Program
In two and
a half days we join Matthias Schickhofer and Martha Rieß into three great alpine habitats providing
mysterious primeval forests with ancient, gnarled stone pines, time-honoured
larches as well as old-fashioned spruce trees ruffled by snow and wind. Above
the tree line, we find a magnificent rocky desert full of bizarre rock
formations and frugal plants, in the immediate vicinity of our base camp Linzer
House, however, orchid-rich wet meadows and bogs with fascinating mountain
pines and other highly adapted peat plants. These different living spaces have
one thing in common: on closer inspection, they reveal their magic and breath-taking
beauty, which we optimally "catch" with professional help so that we
can enjoy the good moments for a long time.
NATURSCHAUSPIEL The Fascination of Dachstein and the Spirit of a World Heritage Site, Photo walk:
Photo walk
with the nature photographer, author and expert of ancient forests Matthias
Schickhofer in the World Heritage Site on Dachstein plateau. It is an extraordinary alpine primeval landscape with its extensive limestone karst plateau
which consists mainly of
desert-like rock scenery, with some glaciers around the Hoher Dachstein and the almost endless plain area with stone and mountain pines, alpine meadows and karst formations. At any time of the day we will
explore the huge Dachstein plateau and try to edit
photographically the enormous spaciousness as
well as the pictorial world of the karst and the tiny colour-intense wonders of plants at
our feet with the macrolens.
What makes the fascination of this impressive high mountain landscape? During this natural spectacle we will explore this question together with Betty & Martha on our walk over the karst plateau: Next to the striking mountain peaks of the Dachstein massif and its glaciers we find cart fields in a wide variety of shapes, fossils, caves and sinkholes, small mountain tarns, sharp-edged rocks, smooth stone slabs - and amongst them a sea of colourful and delicate blossoms.
Saturdays 24.07. / 21.08. / 04.09. / 25.09.2021
The Wurzeralm in summer offers dramatic views and special karst phenomena and it boasts a wealth of colourful alpine plants. On a family-friendly circular walk we learn a lot about interesting facts about different habitats of plants and animals as well as about the formation of the Alps and the effects of the ice ages. We discover the karst mountains from their green side and become aware that mankind has been working here for thousands of years and though has shaped the landscape.
Fridays 09 July / 06 August / 27 August / 10 September 2021
Into the jungle! In fact, they have not interrogated - Upper Austria shares the largest larch and pine forest of the Eastern Alps with Styria. Apart from traces of earlier alpine farming, we find no traces of human influence here. It is a place where only the hard survive: highly adapted species such as the stone pine. A rugged area, wild and original, at the same time full of noble beauty. Come with me into a millennium-old habitat.
Saturdays 29 May / 07 August / 11.September / 09 October 2021
Sunday 20 June 2021
Fancy a special wilderness experience? There, where the Black and Red Vanilla Orchids grow and the Gentians flowers, we find a barren, rugged highland landscape with 1,000 surprises: plants and animals that are optimally adapted to this high alpine habitat, as well as numerous karst formations that make up the austere character of this world of rock and stone. We also enjoy beautiful views to the Lower Central Alps and across the Warscheneck plateau and get an impression of huge, primeval forests and very lonely mountains ... Alpine wilderness, as you cannot find so often.
Dates currently on demand.
We explore the little-known and fascinating nature reserve Haller Mauern (that means walls) on partly unmarked paths. We walk through a glacial trough valley in the driest limestone mountains of Upper Austria and experience the most diverse habitats with a rich and spectacular flora and fauna. Golden eagle, birch and grouse hunt for food. With luck, we can hear the calls of the black woodpecker and even watch it fly. On the quaint Laglalm we learn about traditional alpine farming.
Dates currently on demand.
In collaboration with Betty Jehle, we embark on a journey of discovery through the enchanting natural backdrop of the Gosau. After the sociable driveway with the Gosauer slow train we hike on historical paths through the blanket bog of Löckenmoos. Past the small bog lake and a fabulous karst cave, we discover rare plants and the still active grinding quarries. We enjoy the view of the overwhelming mountain panorama of the Gosaukamm and the stop in a rustic alpine hut.
Dates and information on demand.
In collaboration with Betty Jehle, we walk through the impressive, picturesque Echerntal valley near Hallstatt, from which Emperor Franz Josef, many artists and aristocrats, swarmed. Our hike starts at the parking spot in Echerntal and leads us along the forest stream. It is a mighty source of giant carcasses that flows through the narrow valley and flows into the lake of Hallstatt. Its mighty waterfall, the Waldbachstrub, as well as the surrounding mountains tell us stories from the long gone glacier world. In the streambed of the Dürrenbach we find glacier mills and the different forms of glacier pots, which impressively show us the power of the ice age glaciers. In addition, we show you rare plants and traces of memory from bygone times and let this wild and romantic valley come to life.
Dates and information on demand.
Are you interested? Send me your request