Sunday Gappenfeldalm and Gundhütte

First Sunday tour of this year managed today, am a bit nackered whilst writing this. Biked with Daniel and Nico for the first time on a Sunday tour and Nico and me had no idea how Daniel would bike stamina wise.

Daniel arrived punctually and I got a good look at his new fully 29er bike. Very cool piece of machinery, with a nifty saddle lowering mechanism. Nico arrived a bit after time, so we set of ten minutes later than planed, but on the length of the tour we where doing, nobody cares about ten minutes. First aim way Pfronten Kappel, the first few minutes biking already nearly resulted in a collision between Nico and Dani, when we had to turn left at one point. No idea if it was a bit of intentional gimmick.

Reached Kappel after a while and once again nearly got lost in there. That small community is built up completely wrong, every house has at least three roads. Round the back to the main Pfronten section, where we got stuck behind a very relaxed biker. Was rather slow and didn't break into a sweat as three twenty year old raced up behind him. Got past him at one point and biked through Pfronten main to get to the Achtal. Biked wrong at one point and had a few more meters in altitude.

Up Achtal after that, with a sizeable amount of traffic going along the valley to Austria. Passed the Austrian border and biked on towards Grän, where we had a small break to eat something (and to switch bikes) before we continued up along the supply road for the huts. Up and up it went, us getting rather warm as the sun kept poking out here and there. We where overtaken by a small plane a third up the mountain. He continued up the valley and came back around, just like you see in the old war films. Heading strait for us, Nico and me did the motor noises whilst Daniel simulated the machine gun firing. The pilot even waved his wings when he flew past.

Carried up along the valley, overtaking quite a few walkers, also on their way up. Through a few streams of melted snow and another short break just underneath the top. Saw a person come shooting up on a bike. First thought: “blimey, he's fit”. Passed us, next thought: “Typical e-bikes”. His stated reason was that he IS twenty years older than us after all ;D.

Continued up to the Gappenfeldalm, by passing through a mountain pass. Biked a bit down, which included going through a water filled snow hole. Daniel managed a perfect stop in front of the hut. Not getting out of his clicky and falling over sideways in front of 6 people. Had a lunch break before continuing back uphill and then along snow filled mountain fields along the side of the mountains. Had to carry the bike a few times but we reached the Gundhütte in the end. Had a drink, some ice and refilled our water bottles before continuing on. Managed a short way, before we got to a turn where the lumberjacks had deposited some trees on the road. Daniel took a short cut through the field, and me not thinking that he has a better suited bike for this kind of thing went strait after him. The end result being: me going to fast down the mountain, putting my full force on the breaks to get slower and eventually rolling over the top of the handle bars to somehow land on my back with the rucksack on. My back ached for quite a bit (and still is) but the more annoying problem was that I had managed to get a flat tyre because of my stunt. Fixed the tyre in record time, thanks to Nicos compressed CO² bottle. Rather a lot of walkers stopped by and had a look at what we where doing. After we fixed the tyre it was back downhill, past all the people that had stooped at my crash site (there was one man which played traffic controller when we passed him).

Arrived in Tannheim after going down a trail. Danield biked near to everything I think, as I pushed down a bit, still rather shaky from before. Through Tannheim and along the Tannheimer Tal, whith opposing wind blowing the whole time. We reached Wertach after a while and continued along the right side of the Grüntensee, before Nico turned left to got back through Dohle to Maria Rein and Daniel and me went back to my place to have a shower. Set up the grill after that and had a relaxed evening (with thunderstorm) on the terrace with Nico, Franzy, Daniel, Inge and Johanna.

Track at GPSies , pictures at Picasa and a video from Nico (including the crash) can be found here.

Time in saddle: 5 hours

Distance: 73 km

Average speed: 14,6 km/h

Wertacher Hörnle with Detours

A nice sunny Tuesday this week, until about five o'clock in the afternoon. That is when it got a bit overcast, but it was not something to worry about to much, as it was still warm.

Got ready to go of with Nico and came out of the house to find him playing with one of our two cats. Shortly after that we where of towards the Wertacher Hörnle via Grüntensee. On the way to Gschwend I felt like we where going at a snails pace, probably due to the heigh temperatures we have got this week addling with my perception. Round the Grüntensee (meeting Inge and the Oyer bike group on the way). Then through Wertach and round the back towards the Wertacher Hörnle.

Instead of taking the strait way up we took three detours, straying of the path and visiting at leas three different Alms on the way. Lots of cows around as well, although the Alms are closed. Had a short trail along the way, going uphill (generally the wrong way for a trail). I got of at some points, but Nico had his ambitions high, so he tried nearly everything (okay, you have to give up if you have an incline of more than 45 degrees).

Past some farmers and cows and then it was towards the top. Shortly before the Alpe Schnitzlertal my legs started saying I had done enough. Nico shot ahead and waited for me at the Alm where we both had something to drink, eat, put long clothes on and in Nicos case, fix his clicky. As it was getting dark and cold rather fast we forfeited the last 100 meters altitude and turned round.

Downhill along strait tarmac road, getting back to Wertach rather fast. Through Wertach and around the other side of the Grüntensee. My gears started mucking about somewhere there. Getting close to not working at all in the middle sections. Plan to take them to Jon the next day to get them fixed.

Along the side of the Grüntensee until we reached Haslach where we bid each other goodbye. Back home via the Römerbrücke and through Gschwend, for a shower and something to eat.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 3 hours

Distance: 46 km

Average speed: 15.1 km/h

Wet and Snowy Alpspitze Round

Tuesday once again, with the according weather. It even started snowing in May, which is becoming more common around here. Nico arrived at about six and as the weather was so unpredictable (for that moment we had blue sky) we waited with Dad until Heidi had finished and then set of together towards the Alpspitze.

Biked past the brewery and up along the ski piste for a bit before entering the forest and continuing along a small path. Finally managed to get up a stretch of gravel I have had problems with. After getting a few layers of clothes of we continued on, as it was uphill from then on. Nico and me left Dad and Heidi back a bit. Met Wolfi near the chapel on the way up, he had just picked up biking and shot up a stretch with us. He left us at the crossing to the middle station and we continued on to Sportheim Böck. Was rather windy and cold getting nearer to the top, as the protective tree cover was left behind. Even managed to get above snow level. Reached Sportheim Böck and waited for Heidi and Dad for a bit, just long enough to get our warm clothes on. We had a short discussion if we should turn round or go up a bit further. Still some daylight around, but the clouds had cast over. We carried on to the top, some snow starting to fall. Once we reached our highest point the snow started picking up a bit. Went down across a field, which Dad was sure led to a track past the Herzler Hütte. Ended up getting closer to the “Grat”, but had a fun time exploring round the back of the Alpspitze, with the snow falling from the sky becoming ever more present. Went whizzing down towards and bejond the Haslacher Alm and raced back home for a hot shower, Nico turning towards home in Gschwend.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Dads blog here.

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Distance: 19,2 km

Average speed:9,4 km/h

Tuesday Up the Elleg

Tuesday tour, with Nico and Franzy today. Arrived the trademark five minutes late, but I had calculated with this, so they just arrived when I was ready.

Set of towards Gschwend round the back way, once again getting stuck on that fu**** steep and today, wet grassy slope. Franzy and me both did not manage it, Nico seemingly being the only person I know that progressively manages it to the top. Through Gschwend and downhill over the “Römerbrücke”. Had a small race with Franzy down there and overtook here about half way, more body mass. Nico being the true MTBiker didn't take the tarmac curve, but opted to take the short cut along a small trail. Reached Haslach after a while, where me and Nico took some of our long clothes of before proceeding uphill. Through Feistenoy, luckily at this time of year not yet full of cow muck. Missed my intended trail up the Elleg by a few metres, but got back on trail half way. Uphill across gravely places until we reached the top to enjoy the sunlit alpine mountains.

Wanted to continue along the rim of the Elleg, but one small problem. My back tyre had inconspicuously deflated itself without a sound. Pumped it back up again to see if it really had a hole. Had one, so we spent rather a long time at the top changing my tyre. Not bad scenery and we had the sun up still.

After that down into the forests, biking along three next to each other. Somehow avoided the puddles on the forest road and met another biker coming the other way. Put our long clothes on once we where in the open and then whizzed down the Elleg to the Grüntensee. Biked along the Grüntensee and then to the Wertachbrücke where we saw each other of. Took the lazy route home along the main road and had a shower before writing this blog. All without a sign of rain (it had hailed about an hour before the bike ride).

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 1 hour 30 minutes

Distance: 20,5 km

Average speed: 13,6 km(h

Easter Sunday Biking

Was out biking with Markus today. He had a tour planned around his area, and as both of us had nothing to do on Easter Sunday we went biking. I had to drive to his first, as he does live a bit away from me.

After getting the track on to my GPS we set of down in to the valley in Sulzberg lies. Went down some rather narrow trails near to the beginning already, but it was fun going down with nobody else in the way. After reaching the bottom of the valley we biked up the other side, past a rehabilitation centre for drug addicted people. Rather a large complex, with lots of buildings. Nearly an own town in its right. After that it was uphill through fields. A pair of caravan tourists stopped at the side of the road, so Markus consulted them on where they want to go. Turned out they where on the wrong side of Kempten, which was ways away. They had no navigation device, neither did they have a map. Just some information written on a piece of paper. After sending them on their merry way, we proceeded uphill. Reached the top at 983m and carried along a forest trail, with lots of wet roots. Got of at one point as the incline was to steep, but otherwise no problems. Carried on along the side of forests on not that marked paths, and had some fund whizzing downhill. Biked up a bit on the main road, to get over in to the Rottach valley. Then it was downhill into the valley. Had to get down some steep steps, which nobody in their right mind would bike down. For some unknown reason there was a “no horses” sign at the bottom. Don't have a clue how you want to get a horse down there. Back up to the other side of the river, after crossing an overgrown bridge. Continued along the old salt road from Austria, lovely area to bike in. Missed the turn of at one point, understandable, as it wanted to send us strait through the field. After dodging boulders left and right, avoiding holes and the likes, we ended up biking through spring fields. Arrived at a main road and followed it for a while, before taking a turn back uphill through another field. After a while we arrived at a trail, which took us right through a forest. Brilliant route, not thought for mortal bikers. There where some interesting drops to the left and some boulders we had to navigate through. When there was a warning of a power line up ahead, we abandoned our track and took a detour. After that it was down to Sulzberg and back up to Markus's home, rather exhausted, as there where a lot of trails for that distance.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours 25min

Distance: 28.4 km

Average speed: 11.8 km/h

Thursday Late Evening

Out with the Thursday bikers again today, as it is Thursday. Looking outside from the warm confines of the house, the weather looked perfect. A few straggling clouds and lots of blue sky. So it was short stuff on and outside I went. For a few seconds. The weather was freezing, so I came back in to put long clothes on. Met Heidi and picked up Irene on the way and carried on to the Alpspitzhalle.

Met up with everyone and set of down Wertachtal. Up to Schneidbach, with Heidi and Hetti having chain problems near the bottom. On along the Oyer Moorweg, a fast paced wood trail if done right. They have built up some wood constructs to keep the feet of people dry when its damp, but it is a bit of a challenge for bikers to get round them. Upwards through Schwarzenberg, enjoying the view at the top and getting a panorama pictures. Along some tracks in the fields somewhere and down an interesting trail near the Schwarzenberger Weiher. The local fauna was not to happy with this, we had deer jumping out of our way left and right.

Carried on down into the Rottachtal and underneath the bridge, before biking back uphill to Haag. Was getting dark slowly, so we put our lights on in Mittelberg. Somehow down to Haslach via some fields and foot ways and then back to Nesselwang and the bistro. The Wertach valley being especially cold today. Had some Glühwein in the bistro to war up again.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa.

Time in saddle: 2 hours

Distance: 29.5 km

Average speed: 14.8 km/h

Tuesday Mud (again)

Out just with only Nico this week, as Franzy could not come. The weather has dropped dramatical, we woke up to a thin layer of snow on the roofs of the houses today morning.

Set of a bit late but went round the back way to Gschwend, me dropping out on the first steep hill already. Front tyre was leaving the ground once again. Nico got up no problem and on we went. Through Gschwend, down to the Römerbrücke, to and around the Grüntensee and up to nearly Hinterreute. Onwards to the Büronhütte, after getting rid of some clothing. Biking uphill brings out the warmth in the body, even at 4°C. I had forgotten how steep it was up to the hut, but we managed without getting of. Long clothing back on again at the hut, as now we were heading downhill. Past the Haslacher Alm after biking past snow capped trees.

Nico filmed the “high speed” road down after the Haslacher Alm, one of the notorious areas for MTBers to get top speeds (Nico reached 72km/h, me only a measly 71km/h). Frightened some deer in the adjacent fields, I was worried that they would jump over the road for a short moment, but they ran of the other way. Turned of the road and proceeded through the forest again, a rather pictorially area. Uphill again for a bit, before it was downhill towards Bayerstetten. We adjusted Nicos GoPro so it would film right and nearly got stuck in the mud once again, similar to last year. We ploughed through with a lot of effort and ended up getting our bikes smothered in dirt, similar to last year again. Onwards back home, to clean the bikes, same procedure as last year.

Track at GPSies and pictures at Picasa. Dad and Heidi where out on their Tuesday biking which can be found here.

Time in saddle: 1 hour 30 min.

Distance: 19.8 km

Average speed: 12.9 km/h