There are people who don’t merely run a hotel but who shape it. People whose personality, humour and attitude live on in every corner of the house. “Leiter Seppl”, as they say in South Tyrol, the former head of the Alpenrast, was without doubt one of them.
Everyone who has ever experienced Seppl remembers these precious moments: Snuff box in one hand and a small glass of the finest whisky in the other, he began to recount stories from the past in his calm voice. As soon as he began his “Well, it was like this…”, the Alpenrast bar fell completely silent. They were stories of adventures, of funny incidents, of death too – and, of course, of life. His tales of smuggling, of heavy loads and night-time treks across the mountain passes of the Zillertal Alps captivated his listeners. Real dangers, a sharp wit and the harsh realities of daily life in the mountains – no one could tell these stories as vividly, as humanly and as truthfully as he could.
Seppl was a sociable and good-natured man with a great sense of humour – a real character with a deep understanding of the hardships of his times. There was only one thing that made him serious: when people dismissed smuggling as a criminal act. For him, it was a reflection of poverty, responsibility and the desperation of having to feed one’s family.
His stories still remain, as do his warmth and his unique spirit. Also remaining is a drawing of him, the weary wanderer – sketched by a guest. It shows his warmth and gives the hotel its character. It is a reminder of “Leiter Seppl”, of his journeys and ways, and his attitude. Of a courageous man who remains unforgotten.
In loving memory of Seppl Leiter, 10.01.1930−09.09.2015.
