May 8, 2011, Rotbachlspitz (Tirol-sudTirol)

Once again local knowledge came through to find a great tour.  After a nice lamb dinner in a sunny backyard with a light breeze, we slept well and dreamed of good corn (snow.)  Then in the morning we drove to 1800m (and locals drove even higher to 2150m) and hiked the old military (WWI) road to snow at 2250m.  From there we were able to thread our way to the summit at 2895m, through some nearly melted out rocky areas.   The view was spectacular to some impressive classic Tiroler peaks, and we had the place to ourselves.  We skied down around noon on perfect corn, etching our signature in the somewhat dusty snow.

As usual, there was plenty of time for gemutlichkeit, and of course, a nice farmhouse restaurant about ten minutes drive down the road.  Beer, speck, and sudTirol hard bread were consumed on the sunny alpine deck.  Then home for a shower, and a look at Hans' slides of climbing in Afghanistan in 1972, and Patagonia in 1979, times have sure changed.  After that, it was up the hillside west of Bruneck to a local award winning winery for spinach ravioli and a fine white.  It was a perfect final tour day for Euroski 2011.