36th edition of the LTV Nachtrit

Yesterday evening (Saturday the 25th of October) the already 36th edition of our annual night ride took place. And as in previous years I did a last minute check on the day before the event with a friend. Usually this is a rather relaxed affair. But this year we were seriously plagued by constant new roadworks starting along the 262 kilometre long route. Which meant constant route changes in the last two weeks before the event.

As the weather forecast for the Saturday had been rather bleak, ‘t Kreng was left at home and my LaRo again was the car of choice. Turned out be a wise choice. The rain kept us company all day long, as a result of which the roads were rather slippery in places. The wet leaves on the road didn’t help here. The permanent four wheel drive of my LaRo certainly was an advantage. And due to the bad weather plus the time pressure I didn’t stop for some pictures. Though the autumn colours were rather splendid despite the heavy rain.

As for the route; the last version was uploaded to my GPS-device around 11:30 PM on the Friday evening! Roger also had developed three alternative diversions because we were not sure whether the road sections concerned were open for traffic or not. One section which should have been open turned out to be still closed for traffic. But another one that should have been closed was open again. Could be worse. Till we hit the last part of the route. At around 200 kilometres into the route we encountered a road closure in the small village of Solwaster. Sadly it was the only through road through the wooded area between Sart-les-Spa and Jalhay. As the roadbook so far had been pretty accurate we decided to message Roger about the situation and head directly to the start. This way we might be able to assist with these last minute changes.

Luckily when we arrived at Rolduc Abbey, which was again the start and finish location for the event, Roger already had an alternative ready and on a flip-over for the navigators to copy. And at 5:01 PM the first car was flagged of, traditionally this was the Triumph Stag of Léon.

There was nothing more we could do but watch the 37 teams, with 4 different nationalities and a nice mix of oldtimers and youngtimers, heading into the night. And take a few pictures of course:

After which the long wait for the first teams to return could start. Turned out that most teams managed to finish without to many problems. And it was good to hear that most entrants had enjoyed themselves.

Süd Tirol 2025

It’s exactly 4 weeks ago already since we returned from another hiking trip to the Italian Alps. And again I choose my favourite area in the north of this autonomous Italian province. A pictorial report of this 15 day trip:

12-09-2025: The outward journey

On the Austrian side of the Timmelsjoch,

just before we entered the clouds that tend to obscure the views there!

13-09-2025: Sankt Martin–Sankt Leonard

A fairly easy circular walk from our hotel to the neighbouring,

village to get into our stride a bit.

Free range chickens on a small biological cheese farm in Aigen,

Sankt Martin in Passeier.

Old traditional homestead,

Gerichtsweg Sankt Leonard in Passeier.

The view, from the foot of the ruins of the Jaufen Burg,

over the Passeiertal, Sankt Leonard in Passeier.

14-09-2025: Quellenhof – Sankt Martin in Passeier

With the bus to the holiday resort of Quellenhof for a walk to the small hamlet of Magdfeld and back to our hotel. Sadly a heavy rain and thunder storm had destroyed a few footbridges the previous night. Which resulted in some serious detours.

A lush Alpine meadow near the hamlet of Steiner.

On the slopes of the Passeiertal above Quellenhof.

A small farm building overlooking the north-eastern slopes of the Passeiertal

A Fire Salamander, seen on the Meraner Höhenweg near Schaffler.

15-09-2025: Algunder Waal Wegen

A walk along several Walen, or small irrigation canals around Algund.

A crucifix guarding the Algunder Waal near Plars on the slopes above Meran.

The Marlinger Waal near the village of Forst.

The village which is famous for its brewery with the the same name.

An old house on the slopes above Forst

(Lahnweg Marling).

The Etsch Brücke, a foot bridge over the river Etsch,

between Forst and Algund.

Old manor house in Mittelplars, Algund.

16-09-2025: Walten- Bärengrübalm

One of the toughest walks of this trip, with a length of over 17 kilometres,

almost 1000 meters of elevation gain and in places very poor or missing paths.

A view into the upper reaches of the Passeirtal,

with the Timmelsjoch in the background again obscured by clouds.

The very secluded Bärengrübalm Hütte,

overlooking the steep Pfistradtal.

View from the Bärengrübalm Hütte to Sankt Leonard,

deep down in the Passeiertal

The Bärengrübalm Hütte, which is run by and elderly lady, was actually closed. But we managed to repair her supply cable car, and made an inventory of repairs and parts she needed to get it running reliably again for next spring. Which included the generator which had been blown out during the thunderstorm a few days earlier. Luckily there were still a few solar panels available. And when we finished our work she greeted us with a hearty late lunch. We were running late after that!

17-09-2025: Around the Penserjoch

A relative short circular walk over the two mountain tops overlooking this mountain pass.

View from the Gänzekragenspitze towards the Jaufental, Penserjoch

View from the Penserjoch See on the flank of the Röthenspitze.

Nearing the summit of the Astenberg, the other mountain top overlooking the Penserjoch.

Hochebene Penserjoch

18-09-2025: Passer Schlucht

A very nice walk through the at places very narrow gorge of the passer river between Platt and Sankt Leonard. Unfortunately the weather was very good, the bright sun making it unsuitable for taking some nice photos.

In the woods above the Passer Schlucht near Platt:

“Even the longest journey begins with the first step”.

Lunch stop in the small village of Platt,

at the beginning of the gorge.

19-09-2025: Ulfastal

Another secluded side valley of the Passeiertal.

View from the Ulfaser Alm on the Passeiertal and the Jaufental.

A steep section of the path between the Obere Ulfaser Alm and the Schartalm.

A view from the balcony of the Schartalm Hütte.

The Matatzer Waal in the woods above the Ulfaser Alm.

Our hotel’s forecourt.

20-09-2025: Jaufenkamm and Ratschingtal

A lovely circular walk, too bad the weather didn't cooperate!

I hate harsh light and blue skies 😜

Looking back over the Rinner Sattel and into the Passeiertal.

On the Kalcher Alm in the Ratschingstal,

close to the top of the Jaufenpass.

21-09-2025: A lazy Sunday

A short walk to the small hamlet of Mörre,

and its charming small pilgrimage church.

On the staircase in front of the pilgrimage church of Our Lady in Mörre.

A detail of the house next to the pilgrimage church in Mörre.

The pilgrimage church of Our Lady in Mörre, overlooking the Passeiertal.

22-09-2025: Dorf Tirol-Meran

It was a rainy day between Dorf Tirol and the spa city of Meran.

View from the Tiroler Steig on the Meraner Domm.

Dorf Tirol, seen from Schloß Thurnstein.

The origins of this castle date back to 1276.

Schloß Tirol seen from the hamlet of Sankt Peter.

Inside the Parish church of Sankt Peter, a small parish

on the slopes of the Mutspitze, overlooking Dorf Tirol and Meran.

23-09-2025: Into the Pfelderertal

It was wet and it was cold. And it was beautiful!

View from the Karalm into the northern part of the Pfelderertal,

with the Passeiertal and the Timmelsjoch partially obscured by clouds in the distance.

View, from the Faltschnal Alm hütte, of the northern part of the Pfelderertal

and the Lazinser Alm.

24-09-2025: Rabensteiner Alm

Another wet and cold walk with wet snow in the higher areas.

But the bad weather at least produced some nice photos!

Clouds starting to drift into the Passeiertal from the Timmelsjoch.

A few minutes later the visibility had dropped to less then 50 metres.

Luckily that didn’t last long.

Shelter on the Rabensteiner Alm with the eastern slopes of the Passeiertal in the back ground.

Again the clouds closed in when we arrived near the highest point of the hike.

They cleared when the snow turned into rain!

Looking back into the Seeber Tal just in time to capture a few rays of sunshine

poking through the clouds.

Close to the Seeber Alm hütte.

25-09-2025: Sankt Martin-Sankt Leonard

And the last hike of the holiday, more or less the same as the one on the first day.

Only the weather had improved a bit.

A view on Sankt Leonard with the Waltental in the background,

Floner Sankt Martin.

The eastern slopes of the Passeiertal,

seen from the hotel Jaufenblick.

One of the many foot path markers,

Haselstaude Sankt Leonard.

26-09-2025: Going home

It was a bit chilly at the top of the Timmelsjoch,

with between 100 and 200 mm of snow.