102 
A WALKING TOUR IN THE TYROL. 
(Illustrated by the Lantern). 
By WILLIAM THOMPSON. December Uth, 1909. 
The Lecturer exhibited on the screen a sketch-map and 
contour map shewing the course of his tour, and after briefly 
describing the physical features of the Austrian Tyrol, \t he 
character of the Tyrolese, and commending the accommodation 
provided for all classes of travellers, particularly atjthe 
smaller hotels, and the excellent means of communication 
for pedestrians, proceeded to give a graphic account of^his 
travels. 
The walk was commenced at Otzthal, a station about 
40 miles before reaching Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol. 
Otzthal is at the entrance to the Otzthal valley which is 
south of the River Inn. This valley is 60 or 70 miles long and 
is the longest of the lateral valleys of the Inn. Fifteen miles 
up the valley is Langenfeld, with its sulphur springs, a sort 
of Harrogate Spa, and fifteen miles higher is Solden, a charm- 
ingly situated centre for mountain excursions. The valley 
is divided at Sweiselstein, and, by taking the right branch, 
Vent is reached, whence the Niecler Joch Pass, 10,000 feet 
high, may be traversed. The Lecturer rested some two 
hours from Vent, at the Somaur Hntte, and the following 
morning crossed a line glacier. The descent from the pass 
is on the south side and leads into a most picturesque valley, 
the Schnalzerthal, from which exquisite views are obtained. 
This valley leads down to the Vintschgau and thence to 
Meran. Travelling by train from Schnalzthal to Meran, 
thence to Bozen, and further to the Mendel Pass, the top 
of Penegal (5,685 feet) is gained after a walk of about an 
hour and a half. This presents one of the most extensive 
and attractive views. 
