Day 4 – Eisseehütte & the Eisee

Today was shorter hike from the Neue Sajathütte over to the Eisseehütte without so much elevation gain, which gave us time to have lunch at the hut and do an afternoon hike up to the Eissee lake.

For breakfast I had brot mit schinken und kase (bread with ham and cheese), muesli with plain yogurt and cornflakes, brot mit himberre (raspberry) jam, schwartz (black) tea, and a piece of coffee cake. Went back upstairs to pack, including the laundry that dried overnight (some of which was still a little damp). We were on a leisurely pace this morning since we had an easier route today to Eissee hütte, a little over three miles and only a thousand feet of elevation gain. The hut had an indoor klettern (climbing) gym that was a full 3 floors high. Outside the temperature was was only in the 40s, so we put on an extra layer and our jackets.

We set off down the Prägratner Höhenweg (trail) away from the Sajathütte on a gentle downslope. We were nearly completely socked in with clouds pressing up into the hillsides.

The clouds thinned a little as we progressed down the trail. Stopped at a bench overlooking the valley far below (looked like whoville from up here) where Allan snacked, I made a starfish, and I took a couple photos.

We rounded the ridge we had been traversing and began hiking up the Timmeltal toward the Eisseehütte, which we could now see in the distance perched up on the headwall.

The trail began climbing here, gently at first then becoming steeper in parts. Trail condition was poor with a lot of erosion. Continued climbing for a while before steep switchbacks, after which we passed a waterfall where I tried to make a photo of blue gentian flowers with the waterfall in the background.

Allan suggested using manual focus instead of autofocus, and that worked better.

The grade eased a bit as we approached the hut. One last obstacle was crossing the Timmelbach.

Allan noticed hiking pole sticking up in the middle of the fast moving water and was concerned that someone may have fallen in. We continued up to to the hut.

We changed into hut shoes and ordered lunch. I had the Hütten Toast and Allan had momos (Nepalese dumplings).

Lina, Nico, and Johannis, our German friends on the trail and in the huts for the past three days were finishing their lunch as we sat down, and we said our goodbyes since they were heading out in a different direction and we wouldn’t see them again.

We split an apple strudel. We went up to our room and unpacked, then repacked just enough for an afternoon hike up to Eissee (ice lake). The room was very similar to one we had in a hut in the Stubai alps a couple years ago with double-wide bunk beds that spanned the width of the narrow room.

It was pretty cold outside so I put on a wool cap and Gore-Tex windstopper gloves which kept me warm. We climbed up facing a stiff breeze which made it even colder. We climbed up over a ridge where I thought the lake might be just beyond. But reaching the top revealed another ridge to climb. We crossed a lot of talus before climbing up another ridge from where we saw the Eissee!

Beautiful turquoise blue water, colored by glacial silt in the rivers pouring down the cliffs across from us, from glaciers above.

After taking some photos, we split up to explore. I went up a nearby high point marked with a large cairn. The view from up there wasn’t as good as I thought it might be, but I discovered the elusive Edelweiss!

Lots of them. Small flowers about an inch across.

I called Allan over to see them, but he wasn’t impressed.

I took several photos before we headed down to the lake. I took a couple panoramas and then we headed down the Kleinitztal toward the hut.

We passed the junction with tomorrow’s trail up to the Wallhorner Törl.

We got back after 5pm with just enough time to clean up and go downstairs for dinner. Had a couple of beers and and another couple joined us. Lucas and Sophie were from a Berlin. He a risk analyst for a reinsurer, and she sounded like a lobbyist. We had soup, fleischlasagna, and some kind of chocolate pudding. Allan didn’t like the lasagna, but I thought it was ok. Sophie and Lucas left shortly after dinner, so Allan and I went outside for a few minutes to enjoy the view and evening light.

Came back inside and warmed up with Schwartz tea. Paid for our room and the. Retired to our room around 9:30, and Allan went to sleep shortly afterwards. Institutions a little after 10:30pm.