Maintainer
Maintained by Dick Schoeller.
Last modified: 27 October 2007
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In August and September 1998 we took a vaction in Germany and Austria. The first 10 days were spent in Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, a small town near Berchtesgaden in the German Alps. Ramsau is favored by German tourists but ignored by American tourists.
In Ramsau we stayed in a vacation apartment in Haus Hirscheck. A very comfortable and hospitable house run by the Pitzke family (mostly by Frau Pitzke). From Ramsau we hiked on nearby trails and visited Salzburg, Berchtesgaden and Bad Reichenhall.
After Ramsau we drove over to Ehenbichl in Tirol. Ehenbichl is a "suburb" of Reutte. It is just over the boarder and convenient to Schloß Neuschwanstein and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We stayed at Hotel Maximillian. They have a really nice family room there, with a special separate children's bed room.
Then on to München for the end of the trip. We visited those of the obligatory sights that we could do with Jonathan. We visited with co-worker from our Frankfurt office and his wife. We stayed at the Mariott, nothing special there.
Haus Hirscheck, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden is where we stayed during the first part of the vacation. The house, containing several vacation apartments, is owned and operated bei Herr und Frau Pitzke.
Alpenglow on Göll shot from Haus Hirscheck, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden
Wasserspiel im Zauberwald (Watershow in the Magic Forest), Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden
Cows on their way back from pasture, walking along the road by Hintersee, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden
The famous church in Ramsau, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden
Lisa at St. Bartholomä, St. Bartholomä am Königsee
The afternoon sun plays over St. Bartholomä, St. Bartholomä am Königsee
Wimbachweg, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden
Our family together with Herr & Frau Pitzke and Tscho on our last evening in Ramsau, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden
Our family with Heinrich and Petra Neumann at Augustinerbrau, München
Alpinists on the Aiguille du Midi This shot was taken from the gondola.
Climbers' bivouac below the Aiguille du Midi. This shot was taken from the gondola.
We climbed up along the waterfall and waded in the very cold water.
The castle at Fenis is now a natural history museum.
Chamois on logging cut. I worked my way very slowly up to get this shot.
Chassidim on glacier by Punta Helbronner. This group had come over from a kosher resort at Tigne. They foolishly walked out onto the glacier and across an ice bridge with no safety equipment. They looked so out of place that Lisa just had to take the shot.
Climbers on Aiguille du Midi were moving very fast. The whole couloir was ascended in about half an hour.
Climbers in Val Ferret taken from the trail up to Gran Col Ferret.
The town meadow at Cogne is the starting point for a number of nice hikes. They vary tremendously in difficulty but all have the beautiful scenery you would expect.
Looking down at Courmayeur from Punta Helbronner.
This is what rush hour is like in the Swiss Alps? The cows just trotted along the road, holding up traffic.
Here I am just before lunch on the Balcon Checrouit hike.
Here I am again in Val Veny with the morraine of the Miage glacier behind me.
Doire du Val Veny is a beautiful setting to hike in, eh?
Hanging out at the Aiguille du Midi. I nice Indian family offered to take our pictures.
At Col de la Seigne it was cold. We made our quick hop into France and back.
Here we are having just walked into and back out of Switzerland. What a glorious day for our first strenuous hike of the trip.
Family at Punta Helbronner with a dusting of fresh snow. That's my idea of August weather.
Glacier du Geant is impressive from the gondola. The 45 minute ride is awe inspiring. The ponds appear on the surface as the sun melts the top ice layer. They freeze back up overnight.
This shot was taken from the Rifugio Elena.
Grand Jorasses was a crystal clear shot that day.
Hotel Pavillon was our base for the trip. It is perfectly located in the center of Courmayeur. The rooms were comfortable and the food was great.
Jonathan and Pony
Jonathan below Rifugio Bonatti
Jonathan looking the part of the Happy Wanderer hiking the Balcon Checrouit.
Jonathan at Val Veny
Kids at Aiguille du Midi, enjoying the ice and snow. Can we find a snowball here somewhere?
Kids the Maison Vialle at Col Checrouit. Ice cream is as nice to wear as to eat!
Kids & Dog at the Hospice at the Great St. Bernard Pass.
Lisa in Val Veny. She doesn't like the way I take her picture. This version is cropped.
Lisa in Val Veny. Uncropped she likes my photography even less.
Maison Vialle at Col Checrouit.
After we got out of the wind the hiking was a little warmer.
Melissa at Fenis posing for a change.
Melissa in Val Veny
Instead of using the stone huts, some of the farmers are bringing in trailers to run their herding, milking and cheese making operations.
Mont Blanc from the Col de la Seigne with the wind whipping across. It was cold, clear and dry. That's how you get that streamer of cloud.
Mont Blanc from Punta Helbronner.
The morraine of the Miage glacier. The rocks and grit are carried down by the glacier and depositted when the ice at the edges melts.
The route up to Rifugio Elisabetta in Val Veny.
Rifugio Bonatti is just below a hut that was actively being used for herding and cheese making.
Rifugio Elena in Val Ferret was the first one that we visited. The rifugi are much nicer than the AMC huts.
Rifugio Elisabetta in Val Veny.
Rifugio Torino is below Punta Helbronner, just enough to be out of the worst exposure. This shot is taken from the tram station at Punta Helbronner.
The Mont Blanc ascent route. The shot is taken from the Aiguille du Midi.
A shot up the valley of the route to Grand Col Ferret.