Snowshoe tour: Along the Besinnungsweg (path of reflexion) in S. Maddalena/Gsieser Tal Valley

“Life has become unsettled for all of us. Sometimes it resembles wild water rafting that hurls us from wave to wave, from stone to stone and from vortex to vortex. That is why we all need a quiet cove where we can find ourselves and where we can find God” (Reinhold Stecher, former bishop of Innsbruck). From the parish church in St. Magdalena, walk along the main road down to the bridge; there, on the left side by the turnoff of a side street is the first reflexion point. Now pass the small chapel and go left and down over the bridge of the local stream; after a light ascent turn right. Trudge along the country lane, always down the left side of the stream and past several reflexion points. Once you crossed the asphalt road, wander southwards to the start of a deciduous forest; the red-and-white-markings with the initials of Martin and Magdalena are showing you the way on large boulders. There, pass very old dry-stone walls, traditional wooden fences, a hayrack and several wayside shrines all the way to the hamlet Schuher. Turn right and down, but try to avoid walking on the main road by keeping to the roadside. Close to the edge of the forest, another boulder points the way, taking you right over a bridge to the district of Kapaiern. Immediately turn left and follow the wooded riverbank and various other reflexion points down to St. Martin. The reflexion walk can be done from St. Magdalena as well as St. Martin – in winter use snowshoes. Guides available in most churches.