Blaserhuette 2176m

14 September 2014

Oh the excitement of a morning without rain is just too much!! We had to get out to a new trail in the Wipptal (other side of the mountain range from where I live in Medraz). One of the most promising trails (Trail 523) is up to the Blaserhuette (Blaser Hut) at 2176m from the village of Trins near St Anton (both well-known ski resorts). The downhill run on the other side from the Blaserhuette (Trail 524) is also spectacular so I'm told. 

The GT and 14 yr old VW Passat in Trins

So having parked up in Trins in a designated parking lot the weather still looks clear though a little cold -  The GT and I are ready for the off. A gated-fence marks the start of the trail and a sign indicates that both Trail 523 and 524 are open for cyclists as too is the adjoining 577 to the Padasterjochhaus at 2400m (Note to self: I want to do this run perhaps next week. I'll need to bring some food, an extra jacket and leggings in the event of snow and start a little earlier).

The description of the 523 reads:

Long but not overly steep ascents (Ha - that's a matter of opinion!!!) leading over rough gravel forest trails at first, but then becoming smoother. The trail passes through forests and meadows letting you enjoy the botanical delights along the way. Gentian and Edelweiss line the route. Magnificant views appear over the mountain ridges with the goal being the Blaser Alpine Hut at 2176m.

Misty mountain

Just a little side note here, about 2.5km from the top on a particularly steep misty section I'm passed by a blond lady on an eBike. She flies past me as if I'm stood still (perhaps I was!!!). Observation: These eBikes are a great invention to keep people active, but they can be bloody annoying too. Ego still in tact I pedal after this mysterious electric lady without a hope in h**l of catching her, or even setting eyes on this eBike again. However, I am incentivized to lift my own pace. Within a couple of corners she is no longer visible having disappeared in to the distance. Perhaps she never existed and I was just hallucinating!!! 

Approach to Blaserhuette

Anyway, a steady pace and some steeper sections as well as blue skies see the arrival of the welcome Blaser Alpine Hut - A great place for some hot Kaspressknoedel Suppe (breaded pressed cheese and onion soup) as well as conversation with a couple sitting at the table next to me. It turns out that he's a mountain biker too, but he's not riding this weekend choosing rather to hike with his wife in the mountains. 

Blaserhuette (Alpine lodge) 2176m

Could anyone look more relaxed?

 Side note, she like everyone you meet here has been skiing since she was 4 yrs old and is looking forward to the downhill season, which if you ask me, won't be far off!! He tells me that the Trail 524 is a great ride over the other side of the mountain and that I should enjoy some stunning views of the valley on the way down. He's right of course, but then its all stunning, hardly varying in degrees of stunningness, one view from the next. 
I'm suddenly offered an opportunity to take it all in at a halt when a clackety clackety sound can be heard coming from the rear brake. Just a small tip about brakes from an experienced Tirolean mountain biker - they're quite important when descending a mountain!!! OK, so the offending bit is the metal shoe in which the pad sits, and it has been somehow been sheered off and is now sticking in the rotor - not good for the brake and definitely not good for the rotor! So, I bend it back using my trusty bike tools and continue the descent a little less ambitiously with front brake only ;-) Another note: I'm also getting used to descending in and out of corners with left and right legs sticking out enabling me to pull tighter turns. 

Descending with front brake only!

I've seen them do this on TV and even if it doesn't make much difference at my slow pace, it probably looks as though I know what I'm doing - which is important too isn't it!! So, we make it back down to the car without any further dramas rounding off a great late morning early afternoon ride up to the Blaserhuette. Another tick on the trail map ;-)