St Anton in Arlberg

[Martinr]

If you do the Klettersteiger, then Yes         

How could anyone possibly call this mad

[Diane Clement]

How could anyone possibly call this mad    

I rest my case   

[Ewelina Wajgert]

Very fascinating trail. In Polen in Tatra Mountain we have some very difficult trails, where we "klettern", but these  trails are very good secured with chains and clamps. Is similarly in the Dolomites?

[Martinr]

Ewelina, the Dolomite Via Ferrata are well protected with fixed cables, ladders and stemples. Great fun. I'll post more pictures in the Dolomites topic when I catch up with my photo processing

[Diane Clement]

Ok, back to the story.  I better satisfy the Ranunculus-starved among you (mentioning no names of course    )

We reached the area where the snow had just melted and found large numbers of Ranunculus alpestris.  These were so nice, I found their pure white sparkle superior to the pinky R glacialis (which we didn't see at all, sorry Mr B, probably wrong sort of rock).

I took rather a lot of pics, I shall just post a few ... 

[Diane Clement]

A few more plants of this snow melt area

Thlaspi rotundifolium
Viola calcarata
Geum montanum
Arenaria sp
and some more buttercups just so I don't get any more complaints

[ranunculus]

Many thanks Mrs C. ... no complaints from this old buttercup.

[Maggi Young]

The ranuncs are sweet.... almost as attractive as the Dryas.....

[Ragged Robin]

The Thlaspi rotundifolium looks great nestled in the rock and is a lovely colour Diane......

The R alpestris and V calcarata compliment each other beautifully in the group I think - lovely photos, thanks 

[Diane Clement]

We're still in the same area, limestone, snow only just retreated.  In some patches the plants are moving on fast.
 
Silene acaulis
Silene acaulis with Small Tortoiseshell Nymphalis urticae
Arenaria sp  Saxifraga androsacea
?Thlaspi alpinum?
Blue & yellow

[Diane Clement]

And now, higher a little into a patch where the snow has only just retreated.  Plants are growing in natural crevices, taking advantage of protection by the rocks

Salix reticulata
?Saxifraga exarata moschata?
Draba aizoides
Globularia ?nudicaulis (wow      )
Blues!

[Diane Clement]

We've just hit another patch of Ranunculus alpestris, can you stand any more pictures of them?

[Maggi Young]

Aww, I was enjoying the mixed colours you've just given us.... very pretty.... but I suppose there will be  frightful fuss if the buttercup fanatics are denied their fix, so on you go with the white ones .....

[Diane Clement]

buttercup fanatics

shouldn't that be buttercup fanatic 

[Maggi Young]

buttercup fanatics

shouldn't that be buttercup fanatic 

heavens, no.... if he thinks he's unique he'll be unbearable