Here's a picture of me levitating on the Untersberg.
Salzburg
17May09
My freshman room mate Tim was running the University of Portland’s Salzburg campus/center for an alumni program so sophomore/Salzburg room mate Erik and I met him there for the weekend. I met Erik in Frankfurt and we hired a sleek Italian automobile, a Fiat Punto. To avoid paying for an Austrian vignette (highway tax sticker), we switched the GPS to little roads and darted through neighborhoods, narrow alleys and dark fields until we reached the UP Center.
Documentation Center
It was quite odd to be back in a place where so many fond memories were created. We visited our favorite restaurants, I ran my favorite routes, and we meandered along the familiar streets, happily recalling the good ol’ days. That weekend, we visited Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, a house on top of a mountain with a FANTASTIC view of the area. We visited the documentation center as well. This building was built on top of the bunkers (which are also open for exploring) and it discusses the history of the area and some of the results of the terrible decisions that were made there.
Bunker Hallway. This is where they kept back up generators. It was an interesting underground complex.
The next day we hiked the Geistberg and the day after that, we conquered the Untersberg. Both were long hikes with lots of climbing and spectacular views. The Untersberg was particularly cool because of the trail on the way up. Hacked into the side of a mountain with wooden ladders and little cables, through glacier rivers, and over snowfields, the trail was always interesting and the 1200 vertical meters went by relatively quickly. There’s nothing like standing at the top of a mountain with good friends.
Here is Erik pulling me up a cliff face.
Large Bird and a Wind-Sculpted Tree.
Erik and Tim hiking up the narrow path.
The stair/ladder on the side of the cliff.
Koennigssee
A peaceful bench on the top of a mountain.
Tim and Erik.
