South Tirol, Italy

24 September: South Tirol/Trentino, Italy

A tumultuous history lies behind this area located between Austria and Italy, but what is unquestionable is the beauty of the area. Today a work outing was planned for staff from the Innsbruck Medical University Behavioural Psychology Dept. The goal, about 2.5-3 hours walk away on Trail No. 8 was the Tribulaunhuette (Alpine hut) at 2368m.     


Rather than drive north to Innsbruck and then back south toward Italy, I drove independently from the group along the Brenner Autobahn A 13 (Brenner Pass) to the anticipated meeting point about 40km away outside the small village of St Anton some 9km from Gossensass (Colle Isarco). After the usual delays which are only to be expected for a group of this size, we commenced the walk at about 9.30am (instead of the advertised 9am). First over easy undulating terrain, the trail soon turned to fairly steep rocky slopes. For a general staff day out, I thought it was perhaps a little much to expect the group to stay together as one, and indeed, the group soon split into sub-groups of 4-5 and even 1’s and 2’s. The weather, which started out kind, kept its promise, though as we got to around 1800m, the mist had by then descended low and turned quite cool.

Several water drink stops later we came to an open, misty, somewhat mystical area where snow could be seen in small blotches here and there. Here Iris (a friend) and I met a lady who had already been to the hut, was on her way down, but after meeting us decided to turn around and go back up again!! Shortly in to the conversation with her, I found myself defending the need for there to be a balance between the human encroachment associated with tourism and the need to preserve nature.

I think we soon differed in our views on several points and she raced on ahead of us, perhaps to warn others in the Alpine hut that a Greenie from Australia was making his way up the trail ;-).   We arrived some 15 minutes later and quickly donned dry warm clothing and made our way to a warm room inside the hut for a hot drink and vegetable soup (for me) followed by cake, more cake and yes, more cake with coffees and teas to wash it all down in-between.

It was by all accounts a fine meal shared with a lovely group of people.

Some two restful hours later, all formerly undersigned, we commenced our way back down again along the same route. There was talk of the return walk taking somewhere between 40 minutes and 2.5 hours. Hmmmmm, ambitiou! We took 2 hours at what I must say was a fair pace. I personally found the return downhill hard if not harder on the legs. 

Nonetheless, with good company, great conversation and a few water stops, we made it back to the car park, everyone jubilant with what they had achieved on the walk. It was indeed, all told, a great day out, even though perhaps a somewhat unusual way for a large group of colleagues to spend a work day together. There was little chance for any large group conversation on the walk, and certainly on the way up, I think most people preferred to keep their breath for the trek ahead of them rather than engage in social chatter. Nonetheless, conversation could be heard which presumably emanated from the fit walkers among the group. Definitely, the day will be talked about for some time to come.