In Waldeseinsamkeit

I knew that today was maybe the last time I had to do some serious hiking. Since my Liederabend programs takes place next weekend I can't do anything then. After a few days of cool, rainy weather (which we all loved) today turned warm and sunny. I finally invested in a Wanderkarte, a hiking map, of the Graz area. I planned my hike and set off by train early this morning. After traveling twenty-five minutes to the north I was in the town of Frohnleiten. (I have visited this charming little town before and posted some pics of it on this blog -- it is perhaps the prettiest town in the whole Steiermark.) The plan was to follow a marked trail up a nearby mountain, walk along the top, and back down further south where I could catch the train back from Peggau-Deutschfeistritz (now there's a very Austrian name for you!). On the way to the start of the trail I passed through the tiny village of Adriach and went by the local church. Mass must have just gotten out. Virtually every person was dressed in Austrian national costume, the ladies in their pretty dirndls and the men in Lederhosen and smart Tyrolean jackets. What a fine looking group of people they were! It was quite a strenuous hike until I reached the top of the mountain. Most of the trail was in deep forest but occasionally there were clearings which afforded panoramic views of the area. One photo shows Frohnleiten in the valley of the Mur (the same river that runs through Graz). Both the major train line north and the Autobahn to Vienna run through this narrow valley. It is surprising to find dairy farms at such high altitudes, but they have managed to create pasture land on the steepest slopes. On the way down I somehow got off the marked trail and ended up somewhere I didn't expect to be. With my trusty map I found my way and made it to the train, many extra kilometers later. It was another of those adventures one must expect hiking in unknown territory. I figure I must have walked at least 16-20 miles today. The day ended with a superb dinner with colleagues at a place called the Gasthof Jobstl (another very Austrian name), which sits on a hill overlooking our neighborhood and the mountains beyond.