The European Chronicles 2025.19 - Pitztal Part Two
The Top Of The World And A Fun Failure
It seemed like such a good idea. Ride north through the Pitztal valley, over the Hahntennjoch, along some suggested "rider routes" and then scare yourself with a walk on the wild side - the Highline 179 Bridge.
Sometimes, "you just must know." Let me explain...
The ride was fantastic; the Hahntennjoch is a beautiful, low traffic pass and the road labeled "2" above is stunning...a Tourenfaher TomTom Rider Route suggestion.
Heading north in the Pitztal Valley.
The Hahntennjoch
Austria is cracking down (appropriately) on loud motorcycle exhausts...signs indicate a max dB level. And something about a cow... 😎
TomTom makes it easy to find interesting roads; you just select "scenic" and they come up highlighted in green. Select "rider route" and they come up highlighted in blue.
An example...nothing selected:
Scenic segments
Rider Routes
Easy to build, and faithfully follow, interesting routes.
What is also helpful, is to know a little bit about where you're going. My Bad. 😂. I knew that the Highline bridge was "near" a castle, what I didn't know because "dummkopf" is that you have to park in the castle parking lot, then walk about 20 minutes to the bridge.
There was lots of traffic, the parking lot was full and I didn't see any signs..."Warp 7 Mr. Sulu, get us out of here!"
Relive 'A Fun Failure'
So, a failure, but a great ride. Back over the Hahntennjoch.
The Top Of The World
A short walk to the Glacier Express funicular (right THRU the mountain), then up the gondola to this:
Since I've never made it to a Colorado "14er" this is the highest I've ever been.
Krisanne loves climbing to the viewing platform. 😂
Thankfully, there are...
Krisanne does NOT love the cable car...I try to console her as soon as we get on.
At the midpoint, you can get up close and personal with the Pitztal glacier.
And then right through the mountain.
The Vier Jahreszeiten garden
Where they happily serve her new favorite beer, direct from the adjacent Otztal valley.
We will miss Pitztal...
Ciao!
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