Introduction
The GrossVenediger (3662m) is a beautiful mountain topped with a large glacier and located in the austrian national Park of Hohentauern (east Tyrol). The idea of this trip was to avoid walking on the glacier, which would have required specific equipment and to simply walk while taking advantage of the scenic surroundings.
The
pictures below were taken mid july 20109, some snow can still be
observed because of a rather high altitudes.
Managing the car was easy: leave the car in the
free parking of Krimmel Waterfall (park lot #4), the trek ends at
Matreier Tauernhaus where the bus can be taken at the entrance of the
tunnel. Although there is no official bus stop, just stand at the
gate and raise your hand, the bus will stop.
The trek takes 8 days with
walking times ranging from 5:00 to 7:30 h of walk everyday. Always well
equipped when necessary, some portions of the path require experience
and self-confidence. Amongst our numeous treks, this one was one
of the most beautiful : romantic pastures, impressive scenery with
peaks and glaciers and the feeling to be a bit off the beaten
tracks.
Below the short description with walking times.
Recommended documentation:
- Kompass map 1:50'000 #46 "Matrei in Osttirol"
- Hüttentrekking, band 1, Tour #10 pp 76-85, Ralf Gantzhor - Andreas Seeger, Bergverlag Rother (München) ISBN 978-3-7633-3007-2
Krimmler Tauernhaus 1662 m- Birnlückenhütte 2441 m
The first walk crosses bvery romantic landscape and climbs gently at th end of the valley the to the Birnlückepass at 2665m before to go down to the hut. Easy walk to get in shape for the next ones.
Below the romantic high pastures of Ausserunlassalm.
The path crosses the river and starts to climb left side of the valley at point 1810m.
After a few hours, of easy climb the pass appears with its clear markings and the Holy cross that will be seen in most places.
To Lenkjöchlhütte 2590 m [Top of page]
The
path starts by a descent to the valley (actually in Italy) to about 1700m before to climb again to the hut at 2590 m. A few alpine restaurants can be found down the valley.
Below,climbing again to the hut along romantic waterfalls.
Lenkjöchelhütte, good italian food (polenta) as the Hut is actually located in Italy.
To Clara Hütte 2036 m [Top of page]
Apart from the the starting and arriving Tauernhaus, Clara Hütte ist he lowest hut of this trek.
Below, leaving Lenkjöchelhütte.
Descent to Clara Hütte.
Beautiful view over the Dreisherrnspitze 3499 m on the left of the path.
To Essener und Rostocker Hütte 2207 m [Top of page]
After Clara, the path follows the river and goes down to Hinterbichl before to climb again to Essener Hütte. The alternate route starting behind Clara Hütte is marked "with guide only", although the technical difficulty is not so big, the only problem is the absence of markings, which were deliberately removed to force people to have a guide. An interesting and quite feasible alternative route is to start from the Umbal waterfall and to use for some time the path to Mullwitzkogel, then to turn left at about 2400 m and to follow the river upstream towards the lake of Hohe Gruben. The pass Hochkarscharte is then clearly visible and does not present any difficulty. The path follows then the Quirlwand, turning left can be done at 2200m, climbing along the left bank of the river, a bridge can be found a few 100 meters upstream and allows to cross towards the Essner Hütte.
Below a view from bottom of Quirlwand to Rote Säule and the Valley of Prägraten.
To Eisseehütte 2521 m via Johannishütte 2116 m [Top of page]
Double stage without stop off at JoahnnisHütte that can be seen below.
Eissehütte is the smallest Hütte seen but very good place to stay (barely visiblein the middle of the picture below). Apart from good cooking and friendly owner, an internet connexion might be useful even for the non-geeks...
To Badener Hütte 2608 m [Top of page]
Quite a long one with this double stage to Badener. The path is not
difficult at all, being first a balcony over the Prägraten valley and
somewhat acrobatic on the north side of the Zopetscharte, maybe the
most difficult part of this trek, although it is equipped with cable.
To Neu Prager Hütte 2782 m [Top of page]
certainly the most scenic part with beautiful view over the
Grossvenediger, the Kleinvenediger (3471m), the Schwarzewand (3506 m), Rainerhorn (3559m) and the
impressive Schlatenkees (glacier).
below the Kristallwand 3310 m.
Below the valley leading to Innergeschlöss, the end of this trek
The restaurant of Venediger Haus and high pastures of Innergschlöss in the rain.
A beautiful path brings us to Matreier Tauernhaus end of this trek. From Matrei, a bus goes to Mittersill, where a train and a bus can bring travelers back to the Krimmel Waterfall. The bus usually stop on demand at the gate of the tunnel.
