St Anton in Arlberg

[Diane Clement]

We recently returned from a holiday in Western Austria.  St Anton is on the western edge of the Tyrol region, it is south east of Lech (which is in the Vorarlberg), and is north of Ischgl, both of which resorts we have previously visited.  The season was late, which is good news for us, plenty of flowers still to see.  We arrived to see new snow - not in the village, which is at 1300m but on the nearby mountains.  But the weather changed on the second day and after that we had good alpine weather - sunny by day and rain in the evening.

[Diane Clement]

Just to get you in the mood

flower pix to follow soon

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Building up the momentum Diane ?? 

[Martinr]

Of course the track up the middle of the snow was made by the three of you getting up to the viewpoint wasn't it

[Paddy Tobin]

Alright, Diane,

Give over the teasing and get on with the photographs - great start but you are teasing us.

Paddy

[Diane Clement]

Of course the track up the middle of the snow was made by the three of you getting up to the viewpoint wasn't it  

But of course!   (only kidding, see Day 4 later for some people doing this walk)

Give over the teasing and get on with the photographs - great start but you are teasing us.  

Just giving myself time for editing and sorting ....

[Paddy Tobin]

OK Diane,

I'll wait patiently and look forward to seeing the photographs.

Paddy

[Ragged Robin]

I'm waiting in anticipation too...lovely area walk in.....lovely looking mountain....should be some lovely looking flowers 

[Diane Clement]

First day we had an "easy" walk (although when we got back my pedometer had registered 20km)  - up the valley to the Verwall reservoir.  The best plant of the day for me was Paris quadrifolia, because I have so rarely seen it in the wild.  

[Martinr]

I see we're both glued to computers sorting pictures. Only place I've ever seen Paris in the wild was the Peak District no more than 15 miles from home!

[Diane Clement]

Day 2.  We planned to go up the Valluga lifts.  There are three stages, gondola to Galzig at 2184m, then a large cable car to the Vallugagrat at 2660m, then telephone box style cabins up to the top of the Valluga at 2800m.  
On reaching the second stage, we realised that snow lay quite thickly at this altitude and we were not going to be able to walk from here.  There was also quite a queue for the top stage so we decided to keep that for another day (to our advantage, as we later found out)

Snow at Vallugagrat 2660m
 

[Diane Clement]

So, as the tops were rather difficult for walking we came down to Galzig at 2184 and walked across a side valley to Gampen at 1846m.  And the flowers were excellent on the way.

The season was late, which suited us as we are usually too late for many species.  Previous to this trip, I had only ever seen one Pulsatilla in flower, one Primula auricula and two patches of soldanella.  I had only seen an odd flower on Dryas octopetala.  I judge these as indicator species on the progress of the season.

As for identificaiton, I battled with taking my favourite alpine flora book - Flora Alpina by Aeschimann et al.  It weighs 5kg for the two volumes and I couldn't justify this in my luggage! 
So I would be very pleased for correction of names on any plants

Globularia nudicaulis
Pulsatilla alpina alpina

[Diane Clement]

Pinguicula alpina
Linaria alpina in its two colour forms

[Maggi Young]

As for identificaiton, I battled with taking my favourite alpine flora book - Flora Alpina by Aeschimann et al.  It weighs 5kg for the two volumes and I couldn't justify this in my luggage! 

With ongoing restrictions being imposed by  the airlines, soon that 5kg would be your entire luggage allowance 
 And you must leave room for the camera!!!

[Diane Clement]

Ranunculus aconitifolius carpeted the damper areas