This is my first shot to show from the 6th day of our vacation in Austria/Bavaria (Germany); a place I will never forget not for its beauty but for its ruggedness and for the grueling climb harder than that from the glacier of two days earlier.
Ok – our first place to visit on the day was the Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves and this is how we got there:
1. The coach stopped us at the bottom of a steep climb to the cable car – everyone was out of breath by the time we arrived at the cable car office;
2. Leaving the cable car we went through a rugged, humid tunnel to the other side of the mountain;
3. We had another long walk uphill in the oxygen-rare atmosphere to the mouth of the cave;
4. The entrance of the cave was locked by a steel door. We were handed a dim gas-fired ‘candle’ – one for every four persons;
5. When the door to the cave was opened a strong gush of icy wind came out at us;
6. And then came the ‘bombshell’ - we were told by the guide who was to take us into the cave that we would be climbing 700 – yes, 700 – steps inside the cave. Not mentioning another 700 descent on slippery soak-filled wooden steps.
7. I was really proud of Christine who, though she was never adventuruous, was prepared to continue the journey when I asked her. Most of the others did, too, but some just said: ‘No’.
This is one of the shots I took of our grueling walk to the cave when we were half way up. The pathway was barely 2 metres wide and there was a sheer drop all along its length. We were surrounded by clouds and the opening of the cave looked like hell ready to swallow us inside.
Many thanks for your views, comments, and FAV’s. They are very much appreciated.
Just thinking of this unique experience - its one you would never forget and hopefully be able to describe accurately to anyone who asked. This is a No.1 photo! fav
Wow that must have been quite an experience. It does look so rough and you wonder how on earth did they manage the road and a tunnel in there. Great picture
Looking forward to more pictures of your adventure.
Ian