Jul 14

Have I Been Here Before?


I love old postcards of the Alps, and this one is particularly appropriate because it captures a glimpse of the region that we’ll call home for the next few days. As I mentioned yesterday, we’re hiking our new Heart of Austria tour, and tonight we rest our feet in the village of Gosau, surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Dachstein.

The country home in this postcard is the Gasthof Gosauschmied, and although we’re not staying here, I know it well. This house is characteristic of the small homes that dot this enchanted countryside. This particular guesthouse celebrated its 310th anniversary in 2005, and the family that runs it is 5th generation. They continue to welcome weary travelers with warm meals and a comfortable place to sleep.

Old images like these stir something exciting my blood, and I feel like they rekindle deep-rooted memories of the past. I like to think that a person can actually remember their ancestral history because it would to help explain the reason that I’m drawn to images like this one, with its dark forests, clear running streams, and lonely mountains looming in the distance.

I can almost smell the hot soup bubbling on the open hearth. I can feel the smooth, well-worn and almost waxy texture of the long wooden dinner table. I can taste the cool mountain spring water and see my shadow dancing across the hand-hewn timbers in the flickering firelight. I can even hear the faint din of laughter and song from the hearty wayfarers that passed this way centuries ago.

I find this region enchanting. Do I have an ancestral memory of this place? I like to think that I do. People settled this region more than 7,000 years ago; maybe my ancestors walked their own paths through this mysterious land.

Check out more images of Gosau and the Dachstein by clicking today’s Twitter link, or visit gosau.org.

You Might Also Like...
If you’re hiking this season, whether with Ryder-Walker or on your own, we have tips
While the characteristic Welsh humility and isolation may have caused the region to escape your
The northern reaches of Scotland are a wild landscape that holds a natural purity and
Unwrap the Gift of Travel this Holiday Season! As we approach the holiday season, the
A Ryder-Walker self-guided hiking tour gives you the freedom to be your own guide, go
Calling all adventurous ladies! Are you a solo female explorer seeking to hike with other
Find Your Ideal Dolomites Adventure! It’s easy to see why Ryder-Walker’s many hiking options in
Fall Favorites: Food from the Alps Autumn in the Alps offers a wonderful chance to
Many of Ryder-Walker’s favorite alpine adventures lead to magical, high-altitude alpine lakes, nestled like sapphire
Our Favorite Global Trekking Trips for Fall Crisp morning air, changing leaves, striking views, cozy
There are few hiking experiences as enjoyable as a trailside picnic on a beautiful sunny
Hiking Trips With Luggage Transfers Long ago we discovered the many benefits of ditching our