There were no hope for good weather this day, but at least it was not raining at start (or it just stopped then). It was mostly a day of misery, but still got some way ahead and some brighter moments too. After a while on the way down to Innsbruck the road dried up and I met two groups of Sunweb riders with assisting cars – waved hello to them and they waved back and I realised I was not going very fast … . Oh well, I was soon in Innsbruck (590m) and found the short-cut (only one really) that could make the road to Brennerpass slightly steeper (not steep at all otherwise).

I was not going to Brennerpass though, but instead I was on my way to the big Stubaital side valley to climb two equally high alternative roads. First I found the short-cut (almost missed it) to Schönberg and that was the steepest part this day and up above 20% indeed, so a tough short-cut. Then on to Oberbergtal and Oberissalm (1748m) (asphalt road continues past a turnpike to 1759m). I stopped at a hotel for a coffee at the entrance of Obergtal as it started to rain and to see how it developed. The rain soon sort of stopped again and I continued up the valley.

The climb is a bit steep at times, but it is not a very hard climb. Once up I skipped going past the bar across the road and instead went into the restaurant. It was warm and cosy in the restaurant (the personell less so, but ok). Got a fine apfelstrudel and holundersoda (elderberry soda) (has started to become a favourite drink in the Alps for me).

Then went up to the chapel near the high asphalted point and went down the other side as it looked possible, but that was not a great idea s the road was filled with cow dung and also had to lift the bike over a rope or something (so do not try and take the short-cut up here).

The view in cloudy weather down the Obergtal from the restaurant.

Here at the high point above the restaurant and one can see a little chapel here.

Looking back with cows wondering over my visit and some cow dung, but down the other side here between the houses there was not a place to put down a foot without cow dung – think I cleaned my cleats a little by shrubbing them in the grass after passing by.

Now just the fine road back. This last stretch was likely the steepest.

Another looking back as I could not decide where the nicest view was (nor did I have so many photos on this day so include them all), but that was the last photo from this valley for me.

Eventually back down again and then I continued up the big Stubaital to the end at Mutterbergalm (1748m) (and a BIG climb again). I would think Oberissalm is much sweeter and more sportive, so should have been chosen for the BIG challenge instead of this one.

The climb to Mutterbergalm is only briefly a bit steep. It also has some galleries. All the time there were some little rain to and from, but very little and it made me not feel totally great about this climb either and now I had the cold descent and I did not linger long up here.

One more photo of the ugly parking and buildings and then down. As I got down the steeper part it started to rain more heavily and so it continued until the end of the day. I stopped briefly early on to see if the rain would stop, but it did not so I just continued and started looking for a place for the night. Saw one hotel early on, but thought it looked a bit too posh for me and continued down to Fulpmes and first asked at a promising bed & breakfast, but it turned out even the lady herself thought it was better I tried the main hotel in the village I had seen at once, so went there to ask for a room, but thought the price was a bit steep for being in Austria (and the young man was not very impressive in presenting the costs of various kinds), so continued despite freezing like hell and the rain poured down (maybe it was simply because I was a bit unhappy about the weather … ).

I got back to Schönberg and now I decided I just had to stop at the first best place (I saw a hotel below on the main road to Innsbruck and maybe it was cheaper). I found two hotels in Schönberg and decided the smaller-looking one was maybe the best and it was a little cheaper here than in Fulpmes and the people running the hotel came across as nicer (less like temporary hired workers). It was a good hotel and I had a decent dinner.