Austria with the Kids — Hallstatt and the Dachstein Ice Cave

August 25, 2014 — Traveling toward a dream: Hallstatt and the Dachstein Ice Cave in a World Heritage landscape.

There are three well-known sights near Hallstatt: the ice cave, the salt mine, and Lake Gosau. On our second morning, we drove about half an hour south from the village to the Dachstein Ice Cave.

A lake, village, roads, and green fields lie in a forested mountain valley — A view from the mountainside across the lakeside village and green valley.

The cable-car ticket office at the foot of the mountain sold several combination tickets. We could visit a stalactite cave, the ice cave, or continue up to the 5 Fingers viewing platform. Stalactite caves are everywhere, but ice caves are much harder to come by...

Directional signs beside a forest path point toward the Ice Cave and Mammoth Cave — Signs for the Ice Cave and Mammoth Cave at a fork in the forest path.

As for 5 Fingers, it was high up the mountain and still required a long walk from the cable-car station. With the whole family in tow, we reluctantly gave it up.... This time, we bought only the cable-car and ice-cave package.

After getting off at the first station, we had to reserve a place on one of the hourly tours. The next one started in 40 minutes, but the walk from the station to the cave entrance took half an hour anyway @.@'"

An adult and child walk along a mountain path beneath a rocky cliff toward the cave — An adult and child follow the mountain path toward the ice cave.

Another cable car continued toward the summit and the famous 5 Fingers platform. How scary was it? Scarier than the Xiaowulai Skywalk, if you ask me. Don't believe me? Take a look on Google.

Cable-car lines stretch across a forested mountain valley beyond a scenic rest area — Cable-car lines cross the valley toward the upper mountain station.

After a short wait, the guide came running out of the cave to call everyone in. Before we entered, he gave us a warning in both English and German: the tour would take about an hour; although it was in the teens Celsius outside, the cave was only 1–2°C; and once inside, everyone had to follow the group to the end because there was no turning back. Anyone without warm enough clothing was advised not to enter.

A bright mountain entrance narrows into a dark rocky cave with a damp path — The bright entrance gives way to the darkness of the ice cave.

See? We came prepared... It was summer vacation, but we had even brought our down jackets.

Two children wear thick fur-trimmed down jackets while waiting in the dim cave — Two children wait inside the cave in thick down jackets.

Let's go~

A narrow cave path runs between high orange-brown rock walls with visitors ahead — The tour group follows a passage between towering orange-brown rock walls.

Just inside, we spotted a few tiny stalactites. What a bonus XD

Light reveals several short clusters of stalactites on the cave ceiling — Small clusters of stalactites hang from the cave ceiling.

Farther in, thick layers of ice began to cover the cave walls.

Large gray-white layers of ice build up along the rock wall and cave walkway — Thick ice covers the cave wall beside the walkway.

According to our guide, an ice cave needs a very particular setting. It has to be a high-altitude cave with two connected openings, one above the other, so that its cross-section resembles the letter C.

Thick pale green ice forms a curved arch beneath the illuminated rock wall — Pale green ice curves into an arch against the cave wall.

Because cold air is heavier, it flows into the cave through the upper opening and out through the lower one, helping the water inside freeze into ice.

A massive white ice formation fills the cave behind a banner advertising August ice-cave concerts — A massive ice formation inside the cave, with a banner for the August ice concerts in front.

Concerts were also held inside the cave during the summer. It was seriously cold, though ~.~'"

A massive white ice mound with jagged peaks stretches beneath a low rock ceiling — A broad white mound of ice rises across the cave floor.

While researching the trip, I had also found another cave near Salzburg that was described as the world's largest ice cave. But photography wasn't allowed there... so... what would be the point?! XD

The ice cave was fascinating, but it was cold enough to leave our noses running nonstop...