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Sunday my friend Chris (who was visiting from the states) and I took a hike up to Salober Alm, an hour's hike above the Alatsee. Then we attempted to hike to the Falkenstein ruins, which are about two hours further. The trail started out nice enough, but quickly became engulfed in leaves as we left the Alm (grassy mountain hill) and entered the forest. The trail became more and more difficult to navigate, until finally we got to a point where it seemed to end. We'd just seen a sign confirming the trail about fifteen minutes before, but we were stuck. Chris really wanted to just wing it and find our way somehow. After some trepidation, I agreed. We noted our spot and plodded on. Like I said, there was no trail so we tried the best we could to traverse the hills, which were covered with slippery, dried leaves. There were a couple of points where I protested, but we continued, even though the ominous, yet beautiful sight of the countryside loomed distant in the bare spots of the foliage. In other words, we were damn high up. I really didn't want to become "the girl" and make a stink, but at a certain point I looked down and started to panic. Sure, we could slide down on the leaves, but what lay below? Would we reach a spot where we couldn't move anymore? Chris insisted that we wouldn't, but after awhile I just had to fight my point. So we went back. No doubt, I'm disappointed that we didn't get to see the ruins at Falkenstein. And sure, I wonder if we would've made it down okay. If we did, it would've been a memorable achievement. I just wasn't willing to take that risk. Alatsee (yes, again!):
Chris and the Alatsee:
Last week, I took a ride out to Hopfensee to climb up to the ruins again. The last time I went, the weather wasn't that nice so my photos were substandard. Not this time! 
The Säuling from a different perspective than my balcony for once:
We had our first snowfall of the year Tuesday night. What a nice sight to wake up to:
I love a pink sky:
That's all for now.
I spent a lot of time hiking this week to make up for the lethargy of weeks past. The weather has been lousy here lately. Cloudy and rainy and cold up until this week. Earlier this week I went to Marienbrücke, which is behind Neuschwanstein. It's an iron bridge but it's really high and the wooden planks that line it all buckle. I'm not afraid of heights, but the flexible flooring made me a bit uneasy. Walking back, I guess I had a funny look on my face as I carefully selected my steps, because these guys gave me a knowing smile like they could tell I was wary. I started walking up further, but ever since the Tegelberg I've been nervous about my knee. I need to get a walking stick or something, like a little old lady. Anyway, today I was going to try to walk to the Falkenstein ruin but I didn't quite make it. I knew there was a chance I would back out. It takes over an hour to walk to the trail near the Alatsee that leads to it, and then it's straight up. I didn't think the path would rise so quickly since the ruins are pretty far away, but it was rough. So after about 15 minutes I decided to turn around and do it another day. My legs were already worn out from the walk. In fact, they were still a little sore from the trek up to Marienbrücke. The whole walk took about 3 ½ hours today so that's not bad. Plus, I got to take some fall photos of the Alatsee. View of Alpsee from Neuschwanstein
Marienbrücke (it's a long way down!)
Kobelweg (trail)
Alatsee
I love stuff like this. I learned a lot of fascinating facts about the Alatsee, which I posted photos of before.
It all began when I read that it was 35 meters deep (114 feet!). So I asked a neighbor of mine about it and she said that not only is it deep, but it's known as the "Blood Lake" because of some sort of bacteria that grows in it.
I did some research on the internet and talked to a few other locals about it and I found out that there's a layer of purple bacteria in the lake, around 15 meters down (not sure what it's called). This lake has the highest concentration on earth, and it's the reason for the "bloody" moniker. Above that layer, there are a lot of fish and plants and life in general, but below that layer there is zero oxygen.
There's also a high concentration of sulfur, the origin of which is unknown, and both the bacteria and the sulfur combine to create what should be a completely uninhabitable habitat, but there are some unusual life forms that survive. (don't know many details about that yet)
The most interesting thing I read, is that deep down there is a labyrinth of caves which are reputed to be the gates of hell. Yes, that's right. Pretty crazy stuff.
There's also a story about some cursed monk and a starved abbot, as well as a rumor that some of Hitler's gold is sunk there. Another thing I read and heard about is the fact that they used to do testing there during the war, and the area was off-limits in 1942. And to top all that off, several people have died there, some while diving, and some under mysterious circumstances. Fascinating stuff.
Not much else going on. No new photos to post. It's been raining for more than a week on and off, but more on than off so I haven't been out much. But I've got a list of things I still haven't seen yet, and with my birthday coming up, I think I may do some of them to take my mind off of the fact that I'll be all alone. To add insult in injury, my birthday is on a Saturday night and the only place I like to hang out at will be closed because the owner is going to see Uriah Heep. Humbug.
Oh well, as my friend Joe said when he was here, "Well, you chose to move here!"
He's right.
Mindy (my current Couch Surfing guest):
Me & Julia: 
The border of Austria:
Mountain flowers:
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