Route: The Green Ring – Leg 2
Area: Austrian Alps
Date of walk: 3rd July 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 9.9 miles
Ascent: 2,500 feet
Weather: Sunny, then overcast, then sunny again – but hazy
On the last day of a wonderful walking holiday we decided to complete the ‘Green Ring’ – a 3 day hiking route around the Lech Zürs am Arlberg region. We’d walked legs 1 and 3 earlier in the week
We caught the bus from Lech and alighted at Zürs. We walked out of the town and as we started on the climb up to Zürsersee Lake had some initial confusion, as the route description in our (otherwise very helpful) walking guide was different to the one shown on the map. We followed the description, which took us a longer way round via an easy track
After a long climb up the track we arrived at Zürsersee Lake, set in an amazing position high up in the mountains, with plenty of snow around
After the lake we crossed a few small snow fields and near the high point of the walk we came across a small post box, which contained a biro and some postcards. The cards are collected once a year and delivered free of charge. Someone we know will receive mail from Austria within the next year, but I’m not giving any clues
The long descent was straightforward, apart from one short but very steep section where snow covered the track and we had to resort to some ungainly manouevres to get down
Eventually journey’s end came into sight below – the little village of Zug. However instead of descending to Zug and waiting for the bus back to Lech, we decided to follow the contoured path round the mountain side and walk back into Lech. This was a lovely end to the walk, through Alpine meadows with wonderful views along the Lech valley as we descended gently back to the start
Click on the icon below for the route map
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Waiting at the bus stop in Lech
We alight in Zürs, which closes in summer and only exists for the skiing industry
Leaving Zürs
Just beyond Zürs we follow a path uphill away from the road
Looking back to Zürs
The path took us some way up the valley - in the wrong direction - before finally zigzagging back to put us on course
Looking back down the track
Zürsersee
We follow a path round the side of the lake
Looking back down to Zürsersee as we climb up to the Madlochjoch Pass
The post box - mail collected once a year and delivered free
We walk across a grassy plateau before climbing up through patches of snow ahead
We could hear distant thunder but the expected rain never came
The highest point of the walk at Madlochjoch - about 8,000 feet
A reminder that the Green Ring is also the White Ring for skiers
Looking inside a mountain hut
‘The White Ring’
More spectacular rock scenery on the way down
Rough terrain gives way to alpine meadows
Zug below
At this point we decided to walk straight back to Lech rather than descending to Zug and waiting for a bus there
Looking back
Leaving the Green Ring was a good choice and we were glad we’d gone off piste
Lech
Back down to the outskirts of Lech
I’d been hoping to see a deer or maybe an ibex, but wasn’t expecting this
A final photo of Lech at the end of our final day - what a fantastic walking holiday it had been
