Walking in Europe

Back on the trail in the Carinthia region of Austria.

Day before yesterday we left Trieste and had a very easy, scenic day on the bus; first to Ljubljana in Slovenia with a couple hour stop over and then the bus up to Villach just over the border in Austria. The stop over between buses was perfect as it allowed us to locate a thrift store and buy a light small duffel bag for storing camping gear and other items not needed on hut to hut, village to village walking.

Ali booked a very nice B&B close to the trailhead in Warmbad-Judendorf and we were also able to drop the duffel at the other hostel in Villach for pick up when we wrap the hike in a couple of days.

Yesterday we set off from Warmbad and made our way through the Dobratsch Naturpark (park reserve) that took us on a gentle ascent through mainly forests with some open fields along a very pleasant trail. There were a few Roman ruins to look at along the trail. The big difference: the trail was almost completely deserted! If it weren’t for our trail apps, I’d have thought we were lost. So different to the first two routes on the Europe trip.

We ended the hike yesterday by walking into the pretty village of Bad Bleiberg (a former mining town) that now attracts visitors for the healing natural hot springs in the area. We ended the day in a local pub with a couple of bowls of seasonal and yummy Kirchensuppe (Church soup), a traditional meal that is served only this time of year, and a plate of “jause” (pickles, cheese, meat, etc-charcuterie), with a yummy local beer. Much fun talking a mix of halting German and English with the very kind and welcoming owners who were excited to have Canadians in their pub. We covered 18 kms.

Today we walked out of Bad Bleiberg west along the valley through the village and then up above town. The trail app I was using interestingly took us right through the lobby of the fancy hotsprings resort and out the other side. Very odd sight for all the guests in their bathrobes or sitting in the adjacent coffee shop having breakfast to see Ali and I wander through with back packs and then continue out the other door, across the parking lot and up the trail.

The trail climbed a short distance and then followed contour along the valley wall and along an interesting interpretive trail developed by the mining community to feature aspects of the mining history in the valley- going back to the 1200s up until as recently as the 1990s! The rest of the day was a lovely walk through Austrian forests and farm fields, with the latter half of the trail providing wonderful views of the Julian Alps on the Slovenian side. We ended the day walking into the pretty village of Nötsch where we picked up a few dinner makings at the market before heading to our B&B. Distance today: 21 kms