A cycle and a hike to the glacier

Every morning there is low cloud and it does not look as if the weather will be good, but then the clouds lift and it is brilliant sunshine all day. This morning everyone was up early for our planned activities for the day and thankfully the weather was as good as promised by the forecast.

I have cycled from the village at 1179m to Alp Sardasca at 1648m a few times, and it is a strenuous cycle,  climbing all the way as can be expected when you rise by 469m. Today however, it was so much easier with the e-bikes. We have three e-bikes and rented another one so everyone had one today and you certainly needed them. It is a very scenic cycle, and we stopped every now and then as Xena was running along side the bikes and I felt she needed a rest as the distance is over 10km to get there. At one point we had a helicopter right over our heads, which Xena did not like at all (see extra). They use helicopters here to move wood and other building materials in the mountains like we would use trucks back in the UK!

At Alp Sardasca there is an honesty bar (see extra) where you can get a beer or home made 'sirup' - a cordial which you add to the cold mountain water, I had a rhubarb sirup and it was so refreshing. There were a pair of kestrels hunting in the open fields right next to where we were standing, amazing to see them so close by. Tommy and Inca parked their bikes and then set off to climb up to the Silvretta glacier, and this photo was taken as they set off. The signs indicates it takes 2 hours to get to the SAC hut at the top, but they did it in 1and a half hours (and only 45 minutes down). It is about another 40 minutes to walk from the hut to the edge of the glacier. We did not do it as after the cycle I thought it would be too much, and I was wearing padded cycling shorts which are not great for hiking. However I think we may do it next week when the rest of our family arrive but we will get a taxi to Alp Sardasca like most other people do. Tommy and Inca also had a swim in the glacial pool up there!

On the return journey we put Xena into the croozer as I felt she needed a rest and running downhill on a road is not good for her joints. When we got half way down we let her out to run next to the bikes again. She is so funny sitting in there with her head out admiring he view and enjoying the cool breeze! (See extra) If you have Instagram you can see her in the croozer on her story on xena_the_hungarian_vizsla.

I enjoyed the cycle although I do prefer walking as I think it is better exercise. Sure it is quite strenuous cycling uphill (though not really with an e-bike and everyone here uses e-bikes because of the mountains) but coming down is no exercise at all unless you consider the muscles in your fingers from braking all way down! 

It was a great day out and we were lucky with the good weather.