In September, Andy gave Emily the best birthday present -- a weekend of quality time! I got to pick the destination (within limits!), and instead of a city trip, I chose an over-night hiking trip in the Alps. Hiking has always been our favorite active pastime together, and we obviously haven't been able to do much of it recently! Thanks to Andy's organizing and his parents' gift of time and energy to keep the kids, my dream to get back to the mountains became a reality!
We began our trip in the Eng Valley, over the border into Austria, but only accessible via Germany. Whereas many Alpine valleys' vegetation consist of largely coniferous trees, the Eng Valley is famous for its Ahornboden, or maple floor. We were there at just the right time to enjoy the colors of fall!
We began our tour of the Karwendel mountain range on Thursday as we hiked 4 hours to our first destination, the Lamsenjochhuette, or the Lamb's Yoke Lodge, where we would later spend the night.
The amazing thing about hiking in the Alps is how the view is always changing as you climb. It's as if the mountains "unfold" right before your eyes. From the valley, you might just see one peak, and then you lose sight of it, but after rounding a corner and passing over a saddle, you are suddenly overwhelmed by a multitude of mountain peaks, and it is breathtaking. But I'm getting ahead of myself . . .
After dropping some of our gear at the lodge, we chased the sun on an afternoon hike to our first summit of the trip, and then took time to bask in the autumn sun's rays.
A view of the valley where we began our tour.
In the Alps there is a cross on each mountain peak (at least those that have been climbed!). This was our first cross of the trip, with the Sonnjoch in the background, a mountain with a very fitting name, for it receives sun longer than any other peak in the area.
Writing in the guestbook: each cross has a box with a book in it. Leaving a message in it is an important alpine tradition!
We were excited to see a chamois quite close to our path as we returned to the hut. It turned out to be the first of many, and we always encountered them in the early morning or at dusk. The chamoix are clever enough to avoid the swarms of day hikers!
The Austrian flag with an impressive backdrop . . . our goal for the next morning!
The Lamsenjochhuette
The sunrise and a view far across the Alps (sigh)
Friday morning we got up at 6:30, had breakfast at 7:15, and were out before eight. Good thing, because we had about 9 hours of intense hiking ahead!
Goal #1 of the day: a climbing tour to the Lamsenspitze, a rocky summit at over 2500 meters, or 7500 feet.
Our ascent from the hut to the base of the rock had us wondering if we'd landed on the moon.
We rented mountain climbing gear at the hut, and saw that even the very experienced climbers we encountered wear helmets and harnesses.
We had to get used to the technique of being attached to the rope and regularly clicking onto the next patch of cable.
Your feet also have to "think"and always look for the next foothole, or when there was none, a steel step (thankfully!).
Emily's favorite hiking partner!
Through the "Brudertunnel" (Brother Tunnel) -- right through the mountain to the other side!
One of the trickiest climbing spots.
Now I'm on the moon for sure.
But the moon doesn't have views of the Austrian Alps!
The Lamsenspitze, at 2508 meters, was Emily's highest mountain peak so far, and for both of us, our toughest climbing tour yet! It was so worth it, we'd do it again in a heartbeat!
Did we say "wow" yet?
"Skiing" down the hill through loose rock. One of our favorite "rewards" on the way back down a mountain. Yep, you just go with the flow and let your feet slide with the rock. You end up looking like a Flinstone in slow motion.
We began our trip in the Eng Valley, over the border into Austria, but only accessible via Germany. Whereas many Alpine valleys' vegetation consist of largely coniferous trees, the Eng Valley is famous for its Ahornboden, or maple floor. We were there at just the right time to enjoy the colors of fall!
We began our tour of the Karwendel mountain range on Thursday as we hiked 4 hours to our first destination, the Lamsenjochhuette, or the Lamb's Yoke Lodge, where we would later spend the night.
The amazing thing about hiking in the Alps is how the view is always changing as you climb. It's as if the mountains "unfold" right before your eyes. From the valley, you might just see one peak, and then you lose sight of it, but after rounding a corner and passing over a saddle, you are suddenly overwhelmed by a multitude of mountain peaks, and it is breathtaking. But I'm getting ahead of myself . . .
After dropping some of our gear at the lodge, we chased the sun on an afternoon hike to our first summit of the trip, and then took time to bask in the autumn sun's rays.
A view of the valley where we began our tour.
In the Alps there is a cross on each mountain peak (at least those that have been climbed!). This was our first cross of the trip, with the Sonnjoch in the background, a mountain with a very fitting name, for it receives sun longer than any other peak in the area.
Writing in the guestbook: each cross has a box with a book in it. Leaving a message in it is an important alpine tradition!
We were excited to see a chamois quite close to our path as we returned to the hut. It turned out to be the first of many, and we always encountered them in the early morning or at dusk. The chamoix are clever enough to avoid the swarms of day hikers!
The Austrian flag with an impressive backdrop . . . our goal for the next morning!
The Lamsenjochhuette
The sunrise and a view far across the Alps (sigh)
Friday morning we got up at 6:30, had breakfast at 7:15, and were out before eight. Good thing, because we had about 9 hours of intense hiking ahead!
Goal #1 of the day: a climbing tour to the Lamsenspitze, a rocky summit at over 2500 meters, or 7500 feet.
Our ascent from the hut to the base of the rock had us wondering if we'd landed on the moon.
We rented mountain climbing gear at the hut, and saw that even the very experienced climbers we encountered wear helmets and harnesses. 
We had to get used to the technique of being attached to the rope and regularly clicking onto the next patch of cable.
Your feet also have to "think"and always look for the next foothole, or when there was none, a steel step (thankfully!).
Emily's favorite hiking partner!
Through the "Brudertunnel" (Brother Tunnel) -- right through the mountain to the other side!
One of the trickiest climbing spots.
Now I'm on the moon for sure.
But the moon doesn't have views of the Austrian Alps!
The Lamsenspitze, at 2508 meters, was Emily's highest mountain peak so far, and for both of us, our toughest climbing tour yet! It was so worth it, we'd do it again in a heartbeat!
Did we say "wow" yet?
"Skiing" down the hill through loose rock. One of our favorite "rewards" on the way back down a mountain. Yep, you just go with the flow and let your feet slide with the rock. You end up looking like a Flinstone in slow motion. 
After sandwiches outside the cabin in the meadow, we set off for our ultimate goal of the day, the Falkenhuette. This involved going back down to the Eng Valley and climbing up the neighboring mountain, another 5 hours' hike.
Needless to say, as dusk drew near and the Falkenhuette came into sight, we were ready to get off of our feet and eat a big dinner! Schnitzel and playing cards in the Gaststube -- a great way to end the day.
Saturday morning in front of our mountain peak of the day, the Mahnkopf. 
This is a little steeper than it looked back at the saddle!
It was so rewarding to be able to look back at where we'd been so far . . .
and just enjoy the moment. 
A look back at the Falkenhuette and the Laliderer Wand. Amazing how at 1pm the sun was already hidden by the tall peaks.
In the afternoon we crossed yet another valley and climbed up the next mountainside to the Karwendelhaus, named after the mountain range. It was interesting how each mountainside and valley was different, the one drier, another wetter, one barren, the next sprouting alpine flowers.
By the time we reached the Karwendelhaus, it was after 3pm, and our feet desperately needed a break. The lodge was already in the shade, and when this happens, it gets cold quickly. We wandered to a nearby meadow, avoiding any little presents from chamoix and the like, and had a nap in the sun.
This trip showed us that to say we LOVE hiking just isn't enough. Emily said at one point, "I could do this every day". It is an incredible feeling to get up each morning and walk off in a new direction, just with the clothes on your back, the boots on your feet and the the gear in your pack. You start to think more simply, more clearly . . .
But Sunday morning it was time to return home. We passed through the Kleiner Ahornboden (small maple floor) . . . 
and then along the gentle Johannistal (Valley), passing waterfalls. . .
frequently looking back to marvel at the last 4 days.
We made it! Sad it was over, but glad to go see our boys, we planned our hiking trips for the coming years the whole way home!
