Honestly, it’s not that far….

So what were you doing at 0300 hours Tuesday morning? Sleeping, more than likely, like most sensible people in the world. I, on the other hand, was lost on Hochschwab Mountain in Austria.

“It’ll take two and a half, maybe three hours to walk to the hut at the top,” Bernd said. The original plan was to be ensconced inside the biwag by 2200 hours.

Off we set by the light of the moon, me feeling energetic and positive. Three hours later the novelty of trekking in the wilderness had worn off somewhat and we didn’t seem to be anywhere near the top of the mountain, a height of 2247 meters. By the time we realized we’d made a wrong turn at Ghackter Brunnen (at only 1785 meters), I wanted to head home (after I’d strangled Bernd).

After much moaning on my part (surprise, surprise), 15 km, an altitude increase of 1800 meters, and seven (f***cking) hours, we reached the cold, damp and very tiny hut at 0400.

Although I wasn’t really on speaking terms with my climbing partner at this point, I was damned if I was going to freeze my ass off at the top of a mountain. We hunkered down, drank two bottles of wine and ate dinner just as the sun was coming up.

Will write more about this little adventure once I’ve recovered. Am now about to get on a train heading to France. My “X” place is Xertigny, in the Alsace region of the country.

PS: yes, that is snow you can see on the ground. Who’d thunk I’d be slipping and sliding through the cold wet stuff in the middle of August? Certainly not me. Have told Bernd that if he ever comes to visit me in England I’ll take him on a really tough expedition…. to a tent pitched in my dad’s back garden!

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