Hairpin turns descend into the high alpine valley of Ochsengümple, watched over by the dark hulk of the Rüfispitze. The climb ahead is steady, then steep, before I crest Rauhkopfscharte, a saddle between Rauher Kopf and Gümplespitze, at 2,419 meters. Below, the Stuttgarter Hütte glimmers into view, though rain is beginning to sweep across the slopes. I press on, take brief shelter, and then continue across the southern flanks of Trittwangkopf and Rüfispitze, dropping into the Pazieltal Valley where streams run quick and clear. From here, the trail threads past the Trittalpe hut and onward toward Zürs. The rain has lifted, and I skip the bus in favor of walking, letting the valley pull me along its steady rhythm. Forest closes in, the sound of water ever present, until finally the trail releases me back into the heart of the village. In winter, Lech’s luxury is found in its chalets, champagne, and perfectly groomed pistes. In summer, it offers something quieter, rarer, and perhaps even more seductive: an Alpine reverie shaped by history, wilderness, and the enduring beauty of high mountain life. EC
River Lech and hikers
Gondola
63
EC Magazines | Manila Edition 2025
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