Hiking Rax...

Today Gina and I started out on our hike to Rax, on of the mountains fairly close to Vienna. It was a good way to beat the heat in the city. After all it was supposed to at least 35 C (95 F). So Gina and I left with the train around 6 am. It did take Gina a little time to get used to her doggie pack bag. We boarded the train and headed for Payerbach-Reichenau. Took a little under 90 minutes. Next we took the bus to the gondola. Had to wait for about 10 minutes. Af course Gina's ticket was abut half of the price of mind. It's funny anywhere you show up with her, she makes immediately new friends. The ride in the Gondola was no big deal for Gina. For her that's just like a ride in a train. We then made our way towards Ottohaus. But didn't go there. I really wanted to take a trail off the beaten path. So we took the trail via Dirnbacherhütte and Klobentörl. I put the tracking leash on Gina and let her go ahead. After all she should have the option to explore and figure out the way the trail was leading. A little brain work for her is important as well. And she did an amazing job. Of course there were a few instances where I had to point her in the right direction. The way all the way down into the ravine was fun. Hiking trough the forest, temps nice and around 22 C (71 F). But after Dirnbacherhütte came the ascent to

Klobentörl. One switchback after the another. And all of it in direct sunlight. Very little protection and no breezy at all. The sun was burning down. Gina was painting I was sweating like a pig. (Not exactly sure if pigs sweat though). This was not exactly fun. We had to take several breaks in the shade of a tree. But we finally made it to Klobentörl. We took a rest. Gina and I rehydrated. Gina found her self a great place in the shade. I had an sandwich. The came the next part of the ascent. I didn't remember how steep that climb was and how long it was. The sun beating down on us. And I was sweating like crazy. And in the last third of the climb the muscles of my upper thighs, right above the knee, started to cramp up. This was neither good nor fun. So we had to take way more breaks than I would usually have. But we finally made it to the plateau. Of course it is a beautiful hike away from the beaten path, but it certainly did take a beating on me. The hike on the plateau itself was great and relaxing. Gina got to explore a little and she did exactly was Daisy used to do, find herself a special spot a eat grass. Shortly thereafter Gina got to meet cows and bulls for the first time. She wasn't exactly sure about them. I think she was a little intimidated about the animals size. One young bull took special interest in Gina. He probably just wanted to figure out what she is all about. But Gina just hid behind me. Having hiked for many years I know how to make a

young bull keep his distance. Gina is very different from Daisy, as Daisy would have wanted to meet the bull. The bull followed us for some time. But eventually turned around. Shortly thereafter we got our first glimpse of Habsburg Haus. But it was still about 30 minutes away. We did make up to the mountain hut. Gina found herself a place on the shade right away. I gave her water and she just chilled. I ordered 2 large glasses of apple juice mixed with water. I even considered having lunch. But didn't feel all that hungry. What did surprise me that I was having a cell reception. So I knew that it was way later than I would have thought. It was about 1.30 pm. I checked the free Internet at Habsburg Haus, but at Karl-Ludwig Haus there was still no space available. So that meant we would have to make it back to the Gondola by 6 pm at the latest. So we started to hike towards Trinksteinsattel. On the way we met some of the hikers we had taken the gondola up the mountain with. We made decent time and did make it to Trinksteinsattel in the time posted on the signs. Then we started the decent to Neue Grünseehütte. This descent was a little tough on Gina. It did take some encouraging. We stopped for a quick rehydrating at Grünseehütte. I knew I had to make the last Gondola and it would take about 1 3/4 hours to make it there. And the time that had left was about 2 hours. So we started out and I

picked up the pace. Gina was always walking about 5 meters behind me. It did occur that something wasn't quite right. But there's nothing I could do about that. I knew if I don't make the last gondola I will have to hike down Törlweg and that's going to add at least another 2 1/2 hours. And that won't do Gina's legs any good. So yes I did force her somewhat to pick up the pace. I did let her hike in the grass whenever possible. And this kinda "hiking sprint" didn't do anything good for me either. My feet, knees and thigh muscles were hurting, but there was no way I was gonna miss that gondola. If I would have had my sleeping bag with me, it wouldn't have been an issue. I would have just camped on the mountain. But this was not an option. I even considered carrying Gina, but she did fight that attempt either. So she had to walk. Of course I felt bad for her, but at this point I couldn't do anything about it. We finally made it to the gondola with about 45 minutes to spare, which means we won somewhere along the 45 minutes. We took the next gondola down the mountain. That gave us the option that Gina could relax and rehydrate until we had to head to the bus. Took the bus to the train station and 5 minutes later we boarded the train. At Wiener Neustadt we managed to catch the Railjet, which shortened the train ride by about 20 minutes.
Once home first thing I did check paws. Turns out she must have torn up 2 pads along the way. In retrospect I think I know where it happened. Must have been the way down Trinksteinsattel. She wasn't going around the rocks, but had to go them down. Still not sure if it's that alone or if the major contributing factor was the added weight form the doggy back pack. After all she had to carry about 2 Kilo (4 lbs) in weight.
Besides that mishap and the fact that I'll be having sore muscles form the "hiking sprint" it was a great hike. I felt tired but otherwise amazing. The feeling that you're a little sore but you feel happy and reconnected with mother nature. There really is something of hiking on your feet trough forests, grass and rocks. Keeps you centered and of course it's always fun to chat with other hikers and Gina definitely is a showstopper. Everyone wants to know what kind of dog she is.