Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves

Our last day in Austria we went to the Eisriesenwelt ice caves.  It was another beautiful drive and when we got to the mountain the road was quite small and was a switch back that went up the mountain.  To get up to the ice caves, it was a 1/2 hour hike, followed by a ride in a cable car and then another hike to the caves.  The views were absolutely incredible and we felt like were were literally on top of the mountains.

{This castle seemed high up until we passed it a quarter the way up the mountain}

{part of the hike was through this tunnel through the mountain.  This is Avery's "cold granny" look}

{Avery had a great ride up the mountain}

{Grayson's ride wasn't too bad either}

{the cable car went up a sheer drop...a little nerve wracking}

{the end of the hike to the cave was through these covered tunnels to protect from rock falls.  You can see the entrance to the cave here}

{our views}

The Eisriesenwelt ice caves are the largest in the world.  After hiking up to the caves, we bundled up in our best winter gear to enter the 0 degree caves.  We couldn't have any unnatural light (or pictures) during the 70 minute tour through the caves, so every few people held a little kerosene lantern.  Half way through the cave, Avery's pour little toes were frozen from being wet the night before, but she made it through the rest of the tour.  The caves are formed when the snow melts off the mountain, drips through the cave and refreezes as it hits the cold air forming stalactites and stalagmites.  It was really beautiful!

{the following pictures are not my own}