It's A Long Way To The Bottom

After leaving Schaefler, you walk around the corner and are greeted by a large sign in German "Gefaehrlich!" It warns that the stretch of trail you are about to embark on is dangerous and should not be attempted in anything other than good hiking gear. Of course, I can't see how anybody in high heels would have ever made it this far ;-)

Around the corner, you discover that the sign was not exaggerating. If long drops make you quesy, this part of the route will be a trifle difficult. A narrow trail cut into the rock is made passable by a steel cable handrail. Funny how white your knuckles can get if you look over that edge.


Soon, you cross over to the other side - where the dropoff is less steep (there are no gentle grades on this leg of your hike). In the photo above, you can see the sheer drop on one side of the ridge, and the steep slope that you traverse for the next hour or two as you head to the welcoming inn at Mesmer.