Continuing the hike from Schrocken to Lech, you could see the chairlifts and vast ski circus in the distance. Lech is one of the most biggest and most fabulous ski circuses in Europe combining Lech, Oberlech, Zurs and down the road, an easy ride to St. Anton am Arlberg – huge! For you Americans, Beaver Creek is one of Lech’s sister resorts. Zurs is synonymous with Lech, usually mentioned in the same breath – “Lech/Zurs.” The 2009/2010 Winter season begins in November if you’re interested.

Lech, at an altitude of 1,450m/4,757′, has 250 km/155 miles of signposted trails. Extremely well signposted trails let me assure you. If you visit Lech in the summer, there is fly fishing, golf, Nordic walking, running, paragliding, canyoning, rafting, AND child care in the Kids Active Club.

old pump outside a pension in Oberlech, Austria 

Lech/Zurs regional map, Austria
Down through Oberlech, finishing up in Lech proper. A great day with a 1600′ altitude gain and gorgeous 12 km7.5 mile hike. In the pretty town of Lech and happiness is (finally) a world-class Bakerei/Patisserie. It’s worth expending calories exercising when you can reward with a carbo-load on this. Cheese strudel, huge cinamonny Schnecken, about as close to heaven my stomach could get.

drooling over the strudels in a Lech bakerei, Austria 

Lech’s main street, Austria
Lech Hotel/Restaurant Information? You have to do some serious planning to afford a stay in Lech am Arlberg without mega Euros, Dollars, Pesos or any other currency. Lech has three 5***** hotels, 13****S hotels (the “s” means superior and it almost made it to 5***** ranking but fell a trifle short), 38**** and 23*** hotels/pensions. If you stop to think that the Hotel Post***** (a hotel we passed on the main street) runs an astounding 125-215 Euros ($185-330 US) PER PERSON with breakfast only during the summer months, and 295-390 Euros ($450-600) PER PERSON during winter high season, it will give an idea why I cannot afford to stay here. Would love to but can’t.

IF you are willing to cater in and/or cook, you can manage to stay and there is a free guest card available that encompasses bus service between Lech, Oberlech, Zurs, Zug and Alp Ruaz, the gateway to St. Anton. There are good rail connections, easy to get the information and I won’t bore you. Just visit the Lech/Zurs website for information.

The bus back to Au took over one hour with hikers getting on and off at every village along the way. Even after snarfing down the Schnecken, we were starving. Salad bar, consomme, huge helping of Wiener schnitzel with French fries and ice cream for dessert.

how can consomme look so good in Austria
Conversations between tables with us, the token Americans. There is a French couple at the table adjoining ours and she spent the day shopping in Lech while her husband spent the day fishing. A coincidence that she returned to Au on the same bus we did. Also met one of the German couples on the same day hike from Au to Mellau a few days ago.