Kuhschneeberg 10.7. 2013

If you have craftsmen at home in the morning and work in the later afternoon, you don´t have extensive time for a walk. So, I decide to realize a plan made long ago to explore the Kuhschneeberg.

I can manage to be in Losenheim at 9:45, and being a bit hot already, I take the chairlift to the Edelweißhütte.

From there I take the Fadenweg to the Almgatterl, then branch off heading for the Saukogel ab, but decide to draw back half way and walk to the Fleischer - memorial stone, where I start a botanical exploration of the large grassland called Ochsenboden. A short way up to Schauerstein, but at 2:30 p.m. I draw back and walk down to the charilft - at least near 6 hours without a substantial break, eneough for a day like this.

View from the lift to the gully coming down from Schneeberg called the Laningries

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The summit station of the chairlift, Puchberg in the background.

Almreserlhaus

View from the Fadenweg to Unterberg

White helleborine (Veratrum album), with the Rötlingstein (1.532 m) in behind, belonging to the Kuhschneeberg.

Rötlingstein

Common spotted orchid  (Dactylorhiza Fuchsii) near the path

The escarpments called Tränkmäuer beneath Rötlingstein

Peacock butterfly on a common adenostyles (Adenostyles alliariae)

Mountain valerian (Valeriana montana)

View back, now walking on a forest gravel road.

Fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea)

Northern wolfsbane (Aconitum lycoctonum)

Nearly reached the height of the Rötelstein.

Mountain cornflower(Centaurea montana, Cyanus montanus)

 ... with visitors.

I have branched off to Kuhschneeberg A blue spot in the map did turn out as a small puddle. No well, no drinking water!

Hunting hut on Kuhschneeberg.

The grassland here has severely suffered from many centuries´ overgrazing. Due to the high manure content, common sorrell has taken over the command.

Still some Common bistort (Polygonum bistorta) here.

View from Kuhschneeberg to Schneeberg

On a rocky spot some globularia (Globularia cordifolia) still flowrishing.

Boggy places inside the forest

The landscape isn´t that pretty here, so I draw back. View to Schneeberg.

White helleborine (Veratrum album) is a second plant that can stand overgrazing - mainly due to its high poison content and so being avoided by the cattle.

Schneeberg, Fadenwände to the left.

Lots of Frog Orchids (Coeloglossum viride) in a dry and sunny place.

I can´t identify this composite, best guess would be Hieracium pilosella

Northern wolfsbane (Aconitum lycoctonum)

Brimstone butterfly on a yellow composite.

Painted lady butterfly (Cynthia cardui) on a mountain cornflower.

On my way to the Fleischer - memorial stone, I meet these wonderful Greater Meadow rues (Thalictrum aquilegiifolium) inside the forest.

Now I wander a long zick-zack over the Ochsenboden.

View to the Rax massive.

Dianthus alpinus

Lesser butterfly orchid (Platanthera bifolia)

Dianthus alpinus

White helleborine (Veratrum album)

View to the Rax massive

Schneeberg, the prominent rock summit is the Schauerstein.

The smooth plateau of the Die Ochsenboden, as part of the Kuhschneeberg.

Here I find only two pieces of a black vanilla orchid   (Nigritella nigra subsp. rhellicani)

Panoramic view over the Ochsenboden, dominating to the left is Schneeberg, to its right Rax. Click here or into the picture for a larger version.

 

Dianthus alpinus

Dianthus alpinus

Fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea)

I cannot identify this composite.

Golden Hawks-beard (Crepis aurea)

I have no idea whith this is.

Dianthus alpinus

Dianthus alpinus

View to the Rax, with Schneealpe in behind. To the left of the tip of the right dead tree is the area I walked on 13.6.2013.

A sudden escarpment from the smooth grassland of the Ochsenboden.

 globularia (Globularia cordifolia) back near the Fleischer - memorial stone.

 ... with a visitor.

Rock rose (Helianthemum grandiflorum)

I walk a bit up heading for Schauerstein and the Schneeberg summit, but it was hot and the time has went on. To reach the summit would spend too much time, and I am also a bit tired already. So I call it a day and turn back. Shortly before my return point, a panoramic picture of Rax and Kuhschneeberg. Click here or into the picture for a larger version..

The Heinrich Krempel - rescue hut near the Fleischer - memorial stone gets a good renewal.

Kuhschneeberg, the pointed summit in the background is the Sonnleitstein near Hinternaßwald.

On the way back once more the Greater Meadow rues (Thalictrum aquilegiifolium), in a different light this time.

Fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea)

The way back to the Edelweißhütte and the chair lift, beneath the rocky escarpments called Fadenwände.

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