Ortler Gruppe Revisited

[Katherine J]

It was my lovely husband's idea. Why not to go back in the end of September and see the autumn there? At about 2800 m there was a lot of snow already, but despite of that we have seen many little alpines preparing themselves for winter and also collected some seeds. I really don't like winter - here in Budapest. But the snowy mountains were just wonderful, and we also had much sunshine and rather warm.
Here are a few pics which are maybe interesting. (The pics are made mostly by my husband.)

The Ortler peak above the clouds
Some Minuartia (?) and the Königspitze
Gentiana in the snow
Saxifraga bryoides
Primula glutinosa
Bird
Unknown
View from the Madritschjoch (3120 m)
View from the Madritschjoch 
Cerastium latifolium

[Katherine J]

Gentiana (maybe) brachyphylla
Silene acaulis with seedpods
Achillea sp.
Geum reptans
Cushions

[Katherine J]

The second morning we woke up with 10 cm snow all around the house...

"Our" house (Eberhöfer)
Mountain museum entrance
The ducks were not bothered by the snow at all.
Unknown plant
Larix woods

[Katherine J]

Having a shiny day, almost all that snow melted, and next day we were able to go to Stilfserjoch (2750 m).

The Stilfserjoch from above
Saxifraga bryoides
Saxifraga bryoides
Collecting seeds
Ranunculus glacialis
Senecio incanus ssp. carniolicus
Leucanthemopsis alpina
Geum reptans
Senecio incanus ssp. carniolicus
Belated Ranunculus glacialis

[ranunculus]

Beautiful images Katherine.  Did you find seed of R. glacialis?   

[Katherine J]

Yes Cliff, I did. Would you like some?

[Katherine J]

Veronica bellidifolia
Veronica bellidifolia
View
Calluna vulgaris
Some nice lichen

[Katherine J]

And the last ones:

Loiseleuria procumbens in autumn color
Unknown seedpod (Help welcomed 
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Iced waterfalls
Deer (or hind?)

[Gerdk]

Magnificent views Katherine, very interesting to see the mountains during autumn - but, excuse me - I began to shiver and the temperatur inside here dropped dramatically  - all that snow !

Gerd

[Katherine J]

 
Gerd, it was not so cold as it seems like, really.

[ranunculus]

Yes Cliff, I did. Would you like some?

You delightful temptress!   
A personal message follows as fast as the wind....

[Maggi Young]

What super photos, Kata... our thanks to you and to your husband 
I am very surprised to see so much snow in September .

[Katherine J]

I am very surprised to see so much snow in September .

We also were, Maggi.

[David Shaw]

I am not surprised, now. On our second visit to Obergurgle in early September the first day was summer like. That night it started to snow and we just festered in the hotel for the next two days before going out just for the sake of it. After that we had a great mountaineering holiday but little in the way of botanising.

('Festering' is a mountaineering term for being weatherbound in your accomadation, be it tent or hotel. In our case we sat and talked to the other guests and the owners, drank beer, wine and schnapps and ate wurste and cream cakes. It was very hard.)

[ranunculus]

..... and ate worste and cream cakes. It was very hard.)

You should have sent it back, David!   No wonder it was festering.