When the Swiss stone pine calls and the Glungezer glows in the moonlight. Swiss Stone Pine Days and Moonlight Ride

Last weekend, two events took place on the Glungezer: from Friday to Sunday, the mountain was the focus of the Zirbentage, the mountain was entirely dedicated to the Queen of the Alps. On Saturday evening, there was also the first Moonlight Ride of the year.

The scent of Swiss stone pine is in the air!
Anyone who had already spent the day at the Glungezer could buy unusual and delightful Swiss stone pine products at the Zirbentage market. Visitors can see how handmade works of art, oils and cushions are crafted from the fragrant wood. Amidst the Swiss stone pine forests, there are carving demonstrations, explanations and tastings.

Musical entertainment was provided by the Brixenthaler band at the Swiss stone pine market, nature walks and the sculptor Lukas Pittl further rounded off the programme. It was incredibly fascinating to chat to Lukas about his work. He gave my girls a detailed and fascinating account of how a delicate hand is carved from Swiss stone pine. He explained that the wood can sometimes break during the process, which is simply part of his daily work. Even though he isn’t necessarily a patient person, his craft brings him a sense of fulfilment, which means that patience comes quite naturally. The young sculptor blends tradition with modernity and strives to give each sculpture an individual expressiveness with its own ‘soul’.

Culinary delights at the Tulfeinalm offered a chance to immerse oneself in the world of Swiss stone pine. A variety of Swiss stone pine delicacies left nothing to be desired. From roast Swiss stone pine pork to risotto, many dishes were ingeniously enhanced with Swiss stone pine pesto, Swiss stone pine butter or Swiss stone pine nuts. A truly special treat for the taste buds! I’m already looking forward to next year, as it simply wasn’t possible to sample all the Swiss stone pine delicacies.

Particularly impressive was the nature walk on the theme of ‘summer in the alpine pastures’, led by Peter Fuchs (Agrarmarketing Tirol). He spoke in a personal and authentic manner, drawing on his own experiences too, having spent twelve summers as a herdsman on alpine pastures in the Tyrolean lowlands.

He knows both the romance of alpine farming and its hardships. Getting by without electricity or running water, tracking down stray cattle, operating the milking machine at the crack of dawn, mucking out the stables and much more. After university, he was always drawn to the mountains and alpine pastures during the summer holidays, which is why he was able to answer some fascinating questions:

• What does the term ‘Alm’ mean, and what are the duties of herdsmen and herdswomen?
• Why is alpine farming a cultural asset?
• What role do alpine pastures play in biodiversity, climate protection and tourism?
• What happens if alpine pastures are no longer grazed?
• What are the concerns and difficulties faced by alpine farmers?

Some visitors even made the trip up the Glungezer specifically for the guided tour. And it was definitely worth it. Even if you thought you knew a lot about our alpine farming traditions, the tour still revealed new insights.
Our alpine pastures are wonderful places for walking and enjoying the scenery. But they are also a way of life for people who work hard day in, day out, and for their grazing animals, who, working together, maintain the alpine pastures and thus play an indispensable role in tourism as well.

The second nature walk was all about the Swiss stone pine. This is hardly surprising, given that the Glungezer is dotted with these wonderful, energising trees. Simply standing beneath a Pinus cembra – as it is known by its Latin name – allows us to settle in and take a deep breath. No wonder, then, that for centuries people have been using the pleasantly scented Swiss stone pine wood, with its beneficial effects, in their homes: beds, cradles, wall panelling, and even entire rooms and pieces of furniture are made from it. Even decades after the wood has been felled, it retains its characteristic scent.

Visitors could discover everything else there is to know about the Swiss stone pine for themselves during the day at the Swiss stone pine market. The nature walk with Susi in the evening was the icing on the cake. She answered questions such as:

• At what age does a Swiss stone pine start to flower, and how often does it do so?
• Is the tree a protected species, and are you allowed to collect and take Swiss stone pine cones home?
• What’s the story behind the Swiss stone pine and the Tannenhäher (Swiss stone pine jay), or ‘Zirbengratsch’ as this bird is known in Tyrolean folklore?
• How old do Swiss stone pines typically live to be, and why do they prefer high-alpine locations?

The leisurely walk took us past the idyllically situated Zirbensee lake to the Tulfein Chapel, where Susi handed the participants over to the storyteller Christoph.

Right next to the Tulfein Chapel, at the end of the famous Swiss stone pine trail, Christoph from the Tulfes Theatre Society recited a number of local legends. Away from the hustle and bustle, visitors were able to immerse themselves completely in the world of these tales. Young and old alike listened intently to find out what became of the Glungezer Giant and what had happened at the Glockenhof in days gone by.

During the yoga session at Zirbensee, the participants were able to take full advantage of the view down into the valley whilst practising Downward-Facing Dog and the Sun Salutation!

The highlight of the evening, however, was undoubtedly the moon-watching session with Tobias. He set up his large telescope at the mountain rescue hut on the path between the Tulfeinexpress mountain station and the Tulfeinalm. As they walked past, people were able to take a look through the telescope.

We had to wait a long time for the planets to appear due to the weather. But with Tobias around, there’s never a dull moment – he knows so much about our solar system, the stars and so on. Then, just before the last gondola took the visitors back down to the valley, the moon finally made an appearance. It was an incredible sight. No wonder a crowd gathered round Tobias, as everyone wanted to catch a quick glimpse of the moon before it was finally swallowed up by the clouds.
For a brief moment, the moon moved right in front of the summit cross – a breathtaking sight!