After the unexpected trip to Italy, August had a lot of time left for some one-day hikes. Let’s have a look.
The first weekend after my return, I was still a bit stiff from the journey, so instead of using the long day to travel somewhere far from home, I remained close. Part of it was also because the weather had been mixed, and I wanted something foolproof, so I went to an area where I spent a lot of time hiking as a child. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be more an exercise in mycology than a chance to admire the landscape.
The day was mostly cloudy, and the rain my country faced during my holiday supported the growth of fungi quite well. Once I was far enough from the trails close to the villages, I came across quite a variety.
Which was a surprise, as many were just next to the trail, in plain sight. And in many cases, they were quite large.
So, I ended up walking through the woods with my head looking down more often than up, with my view obscured and a lot to see at the level of my feet.
Though I did make sure to enjoy the sparse lookouts.
The middle section of the trail I took is known for being damp and muddy even in heatwaves, so it was bound to be muddy now, but I knew what I was walking into, and managed that part quite well. With more fungi to see and admire.
The final peak of the hike is known for being windy, and those winds have repeatedly damaged the forests there. For quite some time, that allowed for some views in the distance, but by now, nature’s recovering and the place is full of low trees, which now block the view. It does have a wilder and more natural appearance now that it’s not just spruce, but a mix of other trees, too.
Though there are areas with quite an open view during the sharp descent.
The week after, I took a group of 18 people from the hiking club on a “bonus hike” for those of us who wanted some more adventure. This time, I planned it to a location I visited some 7 years ago as a regular club hike, and I’ve been looking forward to returning there, as the main peak is quite a beautiful place.
We took a different route this time, starting with a side peak. We first spent some time ascending through a valley, and an easy ascent to the pass, which was great, given that it was shaping up to be a very hot day. The final part of the trail to the first peak wasn’t as gentle, though, but the views were decent.
Then, we had to descend to the next valley, which was steep at some point, and mostly through the woods, so we had to keep our eyes on the trail. Which can lead to some nice photos, as I proved on the previous hike.
After that, we had a short time in the valley, then we went up again for the main peak. This was a sharper trail than the first peak, and we gained altitude quite fast, glad for the shade of the woods during this very hot day. Getting near the peak was already a treat, seeing the limestone jut out of the slopes.
As well as enjoying the sights around.
The best of which is probably the jagged peak itself and its closest surroundings. The sunny day makes the white stone shine in the truest sense of the word.
At this point, it was a major treat to walk this open section with all those rock formations.
But those who want to get to the highest point might need to be nimble. Otherwise, they might not fit in the gap in the rock…
Though the reward is more than worth it, with a full wiev of peaks both near and far.
The trail down led through the woods again, which was good to shelter us from the heat, but also didn’t let us enjoy the landscape more. Still, it was a great day with many nice sights.
I took a break the next weekend, when the weather forecast wasn’t that pleasant, and I wanted to give my legs some well-deserved break. Especially as I was still prone to some degree of stiffness during descents, caused by the long bus trip on my holiday. So, the last hike of the month was two weeks later.
This one took me through quite a long valley to a peak that isn’t as much visited because of the distance it takes to walk. Despite the forecast hinting a chance of rain showers for the afternoon, the first part of the day was hot and bright.
For some three hours, it was a gentle trail that ascended slowly, which let us enjoy the scenery.
Given that this lengthy trail requires quite some stamina, there were few people around, which made the hike quite peaceful – until we started ascending to the pass.
At that point, I was glad to have all those jagged peaks around, so I could admire them when I needed to catch my breath.
Once in the pass, I could finally see one of the lakes on the other side of the ridge, but I knew there’s more to be seen from the peak.
Which wasn’t exactly an easy trail, but I was eager to be up there to enjoy the views, so I went for it with only a minor break.
From there, I had the view of not just the lakes below, but a good part of the mountain range. Somewhere in the background, I could barely make out the peaks I visited at the end of June and the beginning of July.
The descent took me towards one of the larger lakes, where I stopped to take more photos highlighting the height of the peaks above.
Clouds started to gather, and I decided to pick up my pace on the descent – while the rain didn’t come at noon, it could still come later, and the shorter distance I’d have to walk in the rain, the better. As the trail from this side is shorter, we saw more people (especially as some went just to the lake and back), but it still wasn’t as unbearably crowded as other parts of the mountains.
My choice eventually paid off, as the first rain shower arrived just as I reached my destination, and an hour later, it turned into a strong rain. By that time, I was enjoying a warm tea, waiting for the rest to gather for departure.
So, that’s it about my hikes from the last month. September might also be tricky with the transition from summer to autumn, so I’m curious where it’ll lead me next. Until then, I hope life treats you well.
Tomas - the wandering dreamer 