Reports from the project week in Matrei-Austria

September 28 - October 3, 2009

Monday/Tuesday: hiking tour Zupalseehütte

Towards the evening of our first day in Matrei all the teams from the other participating countries finally arrived and we got a lot of information for the following week. On Tuesday morning we took the bus to Virgen where we met our rangers, Andreas and Rosa. With two taxis we drove up a steep mountain road to the Wetterkreuz-hut where we had a great view down into the valley and the surrounding mountains. From there we hiked up to the Zupalseehütte where we arrived about an hour and a half later. After a short break we continued. This time the path was more difficult and it led us up to the “Donnerstein”. There was a steep slope down on the other side and when one backback started to roll down. Our ranger climbed down all the way and brought it back up. The path followed the ridge to the “Speikboden”, a mountain with a huge cross on top of it. Again we enjoyed the amazing view and made a lot of pictures. After four hours we reached the Zupalseehütte again. After the dinner we went outside and the Finnish boy Antti played with us a game where we had to remember all the names of the group in combination with an animal.

Christian Pair

Wednesday: Virgen – path of the senses; Kesslerstadl

On Wednesday we falked or drove down into the valley again. There we got a guided tour through the “Path of the Senses” in the fields below Virgen. In the evening there was a nice reception in the “Kessler-Stadl”. This is an old traditional building in Matrei in Osttirol. There we saw some interesting presentations about the National Parks and protected areas in Finland, Spain, Czech Republic, Germany and of course also of those in Austria. We also watched a short film and listened to the presentation of the Ranger. In this presentation we learnt a lot about the typical animals, plants, mountains and especially about the glaciers. Before and afterwards five nice girls from the secondary school of Matrei played wonderful pieces of traditional Austrian folk music. Their instruments were a guitar, a “Hackbrett” and Violins.

The evening ended with a loud surprise. Some masked young men – the “Klaubaufs” - ran into the room. They represent a traditional custom of this region on the days around Santa Claus, which is on December 5. The masked figures were shouting and jumping around with loud bells on their backs. All in all it was a great evening.

Sebastian Schurl

Thursday: A hike up to the glacier

On Thursday morning we drove with the bus into the Tauern-valley. From there a man brought us with a tractor-train to the Innergschlöss hut, where we started on trail up to the glacier. The way was very steep with lots of steps. Later we came to a little lake where we made a break for about half an hour. Most of us took beautiful pictures of the pleasant view into the valley and towards the glacier. In the background we could see the Großvenediger. When we went on, we came to a big field of rocks, which was grinded by the glacier. After another 15 minutes of walking we reached the glacier. When we stood in front of it, we were all fascinated by its size. We also walked up a few meters on the ice. Then we went the same way back down to the Innergschlöss hut. There the group made the second break. Some of us had coffee and cake. Later on we drove back to our hotel. For most of us it was quite exhausting but also a great experience.

Christoph Rauch

Friday: Visit of the “national park-worlds” in Mittersill; Umbal waterfalls

On Friday, the last day of our project week, we went by bus to the „Nationalpark-Welten“ in Mittersill. In front of this natural museum there were some different pieces of rock-art. The walls beside the entrance were made of crystals, probably from Swarovski. Inside we waited in a big hall and then we went into the museum. At first there was a big model of the Großglockner and the Großvenediger. Then downstairs were some animals of the National park, for example, the Capricorn or the chamoix. Next there was a big room for the alpine pasture. The walls were painted like the grass from the mountains. There were also some couches with loudspeakers where you could hear the sound of the cows and their bells. We also went to a 3D-cinema, which was close to the room of the alpine pasture. In the film there was a fantastic presentation of the glacial periods in the Alps. In the last room there was a big, cold ice stone and another cinema-room, where you could see an avalanche rushing down from the mountain.

All in the museum was really interesting, especially for those people who came from countries with a very different landscape or climate.

Fabian Windisch