Coolcation - Mountain Summer Retreat
Alpine Coolcation,
or the Emperor's Summer Retreat
Coolcation (from the English words "cool" and "vacation"), a summer holiday in climatically mild regions to escape the extreme heat of cities and mass tourism, is currently developing into a new travel trend in light of increasing heat waves. But it's by no means a new phenomenon. As early as 150 years ago, nobles, wealthy bourgeoisie, and other affluent individuals flocked to the mountain regions of the Alps in the height of summer to spend the summer in healthy air and pleasant temperatures. Back then, this was called the classic summer retreat, and people would come for several weeks at a time, accompanied by their entourage and staff.
At our chalet, situated at 1,300 meters above sea level, it never gets too hot, even in the hottest summer days. At night, the fresh air from the nearby glaciers, just 9 km away as the crow flies, provides a pleasant cooling effect. Tropical nights with temperatures of 20°C or higher are virtually unheard of here; the average summer night temperature in July and August is around 15°C. This is also due to a meteorological phenomenon, the "vertical temperature gradient," which causes the air temperature to decrease by 0.6 to 1.0°C for every 100 meters of altitude gained, depending on the humidity. As a result, it is always significantly cooler here than in the hot lowlands.
At night, thanks to our absolutely peaceful location, you can sleep soundly with the window open in the chalet.
Our mountain forest, which begins right outside the chalet door, also acts like a natural air conditioner. Because forest trees evaporate water through their leaves and needles, this naturally cools the surrounding air due to physical effects (evaporative cooling). This is complemented by factors such as the high oxygen content of the air, the near absence of air pollutants, physiologically optimal humidity, and, of course, the stress-relieving tranquility of the mountain forest. Summer smog like that found in major cities is completely unknown here in the Hohe Tauern National Park.
The Gartlfall waterfall, about a 50-minute walk from our chalet, is not only an impressive natural spectacle with its 150-meter drop. The fine spray created by the cascading water provides a pleasant cooling effect on hot days and is also good for the respiratory system. At the foot of the waterfall, there is a natural bathing pool, the "Primal Scream Pool," where the truly brave can plunge into the 10-degree Celsius water.
The Upper Möll, a small, crystal-clear river with drinking water quality that gave our valley its name, flows from our mountain chalet in just under half an hour's walk and offers your dog the opportunity to splash around and cool off. Particularly hardy human guests even go for a swim in the Möll (maximum temperature approx. 16°C, glacial water!).
Dogs, in particular, often find the heat of the lowlands hard to bear. Your four-legged friend will appreciate the fresh mountain air and the many crystal-clear mountain streams on your hikes together.
A trip to the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain, and a drive along the Großglockner High Alpine Road is cool not only because of the temperatures. With the construction of the Großglockner High Alpine Road, opened in 1935, this majestic mountain region became accessible to everyone and is now a must-see for every summer vacation in the Hohe Tauern National Park. At Franz-Josefs-Höhe, at almost 2,400 meters above sea level, you can get up close to the majestic giant and, with a bit of luck, even spot marmots, chamois, and ibex.
You can take the glacier cable car even higher to the Mölltal Glacier. Here, at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the temperature practically never rises above 10 degrees Celsius, even on the hottest summer days. You should definitely pack a windbreaker or sweater.
Every week, we invite our guests to a hearty barbecue in the chalet garden. Choose from classic Caucasian shashlik with organic meat from the local farmer – an old recipe from the chalet owner – fresh Mölltal trout, authentic homemade US hamburgers, or vegetarian/vegan options. Drinks are included.
