Hiking in the Alps of Austria

I've decided to base this first post not  as an explanation for what I'm going to write about on this blog simply because that is too much of a cliche' and life is too short for us to be the same. So instead of that I will start this post as I would any post, so enjoy...


Is it normal for a 14 year old boy to spend half a week hiking and swimming in the alps of Austria with his entire grade simply to just get to know each other? I guess not really but hey I'm not really the typical guy with the typical life am I? :)

Just the beginning of the hike!

Even so, I try my best to take advantage of these experiences and I can say with a full heart that I've never been on a hike like the one we went on -- anywhere. I'm a boy scout so I know hikes and I have to say there is something rather majestic about hiking above the tree line in the alps of Austria. I've attached some pictures but to be honest they don't truly capture the depth of the beauty of this hike. All I can say is that when I have those days in Vienna where I miss America all I have to do is think back to those glorious mountains, the sheep bahhing and the small path winding around and around the deep never ending valley to fix up my mood.

Now don't get me wrong, the hike wasn't all just a beautiful and mesmerizing journey through nature :). First I had to convince my Austrian friends that Americans actually know a thing or two about hiking and mountains, and that we aren't all fat and stupid. Like I haven't had that debate before...

Then towards the end as we got low again we were walking on a road full of construction and I became so exhausted that  I stuck my thumb out to a giant tractor and the driver (not expecting him to stop) actually stopped and looked out the window. With a grin he shouted out to me in German, "Wo muesst du gehen?" (In English: "Where you want to go?")

"Schuldigund aber dein Tractor ist zu klein fur mich!" (Sorry but your tractor is too small for me!"  I shouted back over his massive roaring engine. He laughed and drove on. Wow I didn't expect that to him :).

All in all it was a great trip! Check out the pictures below! By the way the photos are courtesy of my friend's Lauren D.F. and Danielle D.

Incredible Alpine Waterfall!

The Austrian Flag being used as a trail marker.

What a Hike!