St Anton in Arlberg

[Diane Clement]

Here's Carol taking pictures of ...

Potentilla aurea
Viola calcarata
Gentiana bavarica
Saxifraga exarata moschata (confirmation, anyone, please?)

[Diane Clement]

Then we walked up a little higher. We were in limestone country, and gradually the terrain became more stony, and the vegetation more sparse.  

Pedicularis sp
Nigritella nigra (I see the taxonomists have taken this genus into Gymnadenia)
Rhododendron hirsutum growing in very poor stony soil

[Diane Clement]

We ventured a little way onto the scree, but the best plants were growing in the area slightly lower than the scree as the snow had only just melted from here.

Right at the top of the peak, on the skyline, is a Klettersteig/Via Ferrata walks (translation: only for the crazy).  Later in the day, we met a couple of chaps who had walked the whole route including the Klettersteiger and then down the scree.  They had started from the snowy top of the Valluga peak where we had been a couple of days before and it took them all day.  They would have had a fantastic view both sides of the peak, but it must have been very difficult walking  

[Ragged Robin]

Viola calcarata is really sweet and it must have been dwarfed by the landscape which is spectacular Diane - the views must have been very uplifting 

[Diane Clement]

We headed for the snow patches and searched the edges for the snow melt plants

Soldanella alpina
Primula auricula
I have only seen Primula auricula in flower once before, as we are usually too late.  The previous occasion was on the Eigernordwand walk which has a late season, because it is north facing.

[Gerdk]

Viola calcarata is really sweet and it must have been dwarfed by the landscape which is spectacular Diane - the views must have been very uplifting 

Yes, this is true - and especially the pic of the late Primula auricula is striking!

Gerd

[ranunculus]

Good morning Diane,
Only just discovered this super thread (been a bit busy with posting instead of searching) and what a joy it is!
Very clever use of your lovely sister as a model and wonderful photography.
Only one tiny fault ... where are the buttercups please? 

[Diane Clement]

Good morning Diane,
Only just discovered this super thread (been a bit busy with posting instead of searching) and what a joy it is!
Very clever use of your lovely sister as a model and wonderful photography.
Only one tiny fault ... where are the buttercups please?    

Good morning, Mr Ranunculus and thank you.
They're coming, follow the plot, please Mr R, we are just heading for the snow melt.  We saw thousands (yes, literally).  Patience, patience

[cohan]

We headed for the snow patches and searched the edges for the snow melt plants

Soldanella alpina
Primula auricula
I have only seen Primula auricula in flower once before, as we are usually too late.  The previous occasion was on the Eigernordwand walk which has a late season, because it is north facing.

lovely flowers and views...fascinating that things grow and thrive in these so short seasons... makes me feel a little better about our late snow melt and snowstorms in may this year when will these areas get snow again, do they have a long autumn?

[Martinr]

Klettersteig/Via Ferrata walks (translation: only for the crazy).  

Are you calling me crazy?

[Paddy Tobin]

Good morning Diane,
Only just discovered this super thread (been a bit busy with posting instead of searching) and what a joy it is!
Very clever use of your lovely sister as a model and wonderful photography.
Only one tiny fault ... where are the buttercups please? 

Cliff,

Didn't I tell you that reports from the mountains continued in your absence. We have been enjoying Diane's reports for the past few days.

Diane, Now you see that I am not the only impatient one! Great report and photographs, really enjoying them.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Klettersteig/Via Ferrata walks (translation: only for the crazy).  

Are you calling me crazy?

Was there ever an element of doubt? 

[Martinr]

Klettersteig/Via Ferrata walks (translation: only for the crazy).  

Are you calling me crazy?

Was there ever an element of doubt? 

 

[Diane Clement]

Are you calling me crazy? 

If you do the Klettersteiger, then Yes         

[Ewelina Wajgert]

Very interesting thread and beautiful photos, Diane.

I hope I take advantage sometime of your description, if I'm in Alps. This region is still stranger for me.