On a crisp day in early November, my wife and I found ourselves pondering the eternal question that often plagues hikers: where should we go? Our area offers an abundance of trails and vistas, making it difficult to come to a choice. The only restricition we had was, going more to the south as we knew already that there would be quite a lot of fog and clouds in the northern area. After some independent consideration, we both arrived at the same decision – let’s hike the Mariensteig! We shared a chuckle at our synchronized choice.
This trail along the shores of Achensee promised to be a delightful outing without being overly exhausting, especially given my wife’s recent acquisition of new footwear. With this plan in mind, we were excited to set off on our adventure.
A Picturesque Day by the Lake
The Mariensteig is famed for its stunning scenery, and as we approached the Achensee, we were greeted by the sun shining down, lighting up the lake and the majestic mountains on the opposite shore. The narrow path beckoned us to explore, presenting a non-threatening challenge – perfect for our intent to enjoy the day without undue strain. Being situated along the western shore meant that we would be basking in the sun for much of our hike, further enhancing the experience. With the Rofan mountains rising across the lake, we knew we were in for a pleasant day.
The Journey Begins
As we parked the car and began our walk, we were a bit surprised how chilly it felt. With the sun out, we welcomed the warmth it offered but still dressed appropriately for the brisk autumn air. Soon after starting, we passed an intriguing “attention” sign warning that the trail was not as simple as it might seem. We couldn’t help but speculate about what had transpired to warrant such a warning, yet we pressed on undeterred. The path unfolded before us with gentle ups and downs. The occasional staircase facilitated our traversal, and any potentially dangerous sections were securely marked. The first half of the walk was serendipitously quiet; fewer hikers took advantage of the trail early in the day, allowing us to soak in the tranquil ambiance around us.
As we made our way to the second half of the hike, the atmosphere changed slightly as some areas were cast in shadow. I found myself taking a few photos. While the setting was undeniably beautiful, I wasn’t inspired to capture a stunning composition. Instead, I enjoyed focusing on the moment with some fresh air and picturesque surroundings.
As we continued, the chill began to settle in, prompting us to layer up. By the end of our stroll, my wife unfortunately developed a blister on her heel, prompting us to reassess our plans. Instead of retracing our steps along the trail, we decided to take the scenic boat ride back across the Achensee. Our original plans considered maybe taking have the way with the boat, but the blister made changed the plans.
Boarding the ship felt wonderfully relaxing. Though it was populated with fellow travelers, the voyage offered a serene atmosphere, allowing me to reflect on our lovely day. Even with more people around, I found myself calming down, enjoying the gentle rocking of the boat against the water. Our spontaneous decision to embrace the Mariensteig had turned out to be an enriching experience and a perfect escape amidst the stunning beauty of autumn.