Stories from the Farm
A guest in the realm of the eagles
Peter, a keen amateur ornithologist, has found the perfect place to relax and indulge in his hobby at the Suntinger family's mountain hut in the Hohe Tauern National Park. Because often all you need is the pristine nature of the mountains. Combined with a good pair of binoculars.
When you hear nothing, sometimes you hear everything. And if you seek out the mountains, you usually find yourself a little way back, the source of which suddenly becomes clear and distinct again in the midst of untouched nature. The Suntinger family's Obere Roner Kasa in Mörtschach is such a place of peace, strength and reflection. At 1,450 meters above sea level, you are a guest in the Hohe Tauern National Park. Peter from Vienna got to know and love this magical place over 20 years ago with his family. He returns here every two years to recharge his batteries for three, sometimes even four weeks, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Formative force of nature
"My wife and I are enthusiastic amateur ornithologists, very close to nature and, despite our advanced age, enjoy traveling a lot." It is the peace and quiet and a certain form of social time-out that they both enjoy here. "We live just ten minutes from the Vienna Woods." Privileged residential area? "Yes, but the city is completely different in terms of the density of people." Hiking trails line the landscape along the alpine meadows around the Oberer Roner Kasa, with the vast mountain forests and peaks sharing the horizon with the eagles. Backdrops that evoke memories: "One summer afternoon, my son was out in front of the hut with a friend when dark storm clouds gathered in the sky. Three eagles shot straight as arrows over the roof to seek shelter from the impending storm. The youngsters laughed at my warning to watch out and it was only a few minutes before the heavens opened their floodgates, lightning flashed above us and the thunder shook the wooden walls. In the end, neither of them said a word, both had huddled behind the warming stove. It's important to realize that you are just a guest in nature and that not everything can be controlled."
" My wife and I are enthusiastic amateur ornithologists, very close to nature and, despite our advanced age, enjoy traveling a lot. "
Peter
The changing climate
Peter is looking for adventure in the wilderness: he spent two weeks on the northern Arctic Ocean with a deep-sea fisherman and two weeks paddling in Alaska. And yet he is always drawn back here to Mörtschach. "Because of the peace and quiet and the good farm produce. I appreciate things that have tradition. You have to have tasted that not all farmhouse butters are the same, but each has its own unique flavor. I want to know where the meat and cheese I prepare comes from. I am not indifferent to the cost of sustainable food, but I am willing to pay more for it. The climate is changing every day, cultural assets are in danger of disappearing. People who don't look won't notice. Those who do get scared. I'm scared." Because he has seen how dried-up rivers in Norway are forcing a country to take new measures and how global warming is upsetting the habits of fauna and flora. "The habitat of the ring ouzel, for example, has moved up 300 meters in altitude in recent years. You can no longer find this bird anywhere below 1000 meters above sea level. Developments like this worry me."
Environmentally friendly vacation
An alpine vacation is more environmentally friendly and keeps the ecological footprint small, says Peter. "I only fly every two to four years if a long vacation is planned, otherwise I enjoy the peace and quiet here, the good food and the team spirit. I like it when people say straight out what they think." It is these tastes and feelings that enrich his days. And moments of happiness when he manages to photograph one of the rare rock partridges. "That really is a lottery six-pointer."
