14.8 km, +1130/-575 m, 9 hrs (guidebook time)
Jetlagged or not jetlagged, rested or not rested, we had to hit the trail toward Friesenberghaus the next morning. The sign informed us that we were looking at about 9 hours of ambitious hiking. To cut the chase ... it took us 12 hours to get there.
In spite of a cloudy day, we left Gamshutte right after breakfast.
Shortly thereafter, I took this epic picture of Mike against very cloudy Alps, which won the Grand Prix of our 2017 Photo-Competition. He knows how to strike a pose!
The traverse was long, exposed, but otherwise safe.
After about two hours, we encountered this Russian hiker, whose name already escaped my mind. He was very fast, in spite of carrying a big backpack. We were unable to keep his pace. (See, how the shelter is hidden behind a big boulder. In winter, this place must be at constant danger of avalanche.)
The terrain flattened a bit, but constant ups and downs (of the terrain) were taking toll on our legs.
We hiked along a few of these structures that, I assume, were established to shelter people and grazing animals.
Some of them were serviced by this kind of lifts from the valley below.
Then, another traverse led us down toward ...
... a small creek, where we gave our legs a bit of rest.
Pity we had to hike up again ... and again ... and again!
Only after about 9 hours that we reached Wesendlekarsee, a glacier-fed lake. We were much behind the time, so we didn't even rest there.
It was already getting dark when we first spotted the Haus.
Mike was so exhausted that his legs "gave in," and he fell on the trail. Luckily, a daredevil as he is, he didn't injure himself.
Eventually, we reached Friesenberghaus, at an elevation of 2477 m, shortly before darkness, completely spent. Though warm supper, and some wine/beer, improved our spirits, I was still wondering, if the trail was not above our ability. We decided to sleep over this feeling.
To be continued.
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