Start: 08.30 a.m.: parking lot Tesselberg. For the journey to Tesselberg car pool will be formed by the respective tourism-organisation. Walking time: 5-6 hours (walk of intermediate difficulty). Good walking shoes, rainwear and food supply, especially water, are to be taken. Return around 05.00 p.m. Course of the walk: From Tesselberg (1,470 m) on the paths 3 and 7 to Hühnerspiel and further over the mountain ridge to Schönbichl (2,452 m). Return over the Tesselberger alpine pasture and the following forest path to the starting point. Theme of the walk: We climb up over an extended mountain ridge between Wielental and Tesselberg through a dense, nearly untouched timber forest. The aspect of a healthy woody soil with moss, braids and mushrooms offers its services as talking point. A wide panorama opens up from the viewing points: we overlook the alpine pastures of the Wielental and Mühlbachtal until the near mountains of the Rieserfernergruppe of 3,000 metres high and the distant Hohen Tauern, Zillertaler Alps and the Ötztaler Alps; in the South lies the bizarre world of the Dolomites which stimulates to speak about the becoming of this geological variety.
Mastery in the art of living: Rein in Taufers - Kofler lakes - Rein in Taufers
Start: 08.30 a.m.: Tourist information office Sand in Taufers (for the journey to Rein in Taufers car pools are formed). Walking time: 5-6 hours (walk of intermediate difficulty). Walking outfit, rainwear and food supply are required. Return around 05.00 p.m. Course of the walk: From the parking lot "Knuttental" in Rein in Taufers (1,675 m) on the path 8 a to the lower and upper Kofler alpine pasture and further on the path 9 a to the Kofler lakes (2,439 m). The return can be dared over the Sossen alpine pasture (path 9) to the Knuttental to the starting point if weather permitting and conditionally good walking group. Theme of the walk: Aim of the walk are the Kofler lakes. We get into varied wood areas and alpine pastures; here over centuries the human hand has created cultivated land which is still well maintained and cultivated. The lakes themselves are embedded in a torn mountainous landscape in the build-up of morainal rubble. On their shore alpine meadows with a variety of flowers and grass spread out and the art of surviving in the high mountains characterizes their growth. But also the look into the distance, the view to the glaciated tops of the Rieserferner are worth the walk.
Ice Age: Rein in Taufers - Hochgallhütte (Kassler Hütte) - Malersee - Rein in Taufers
Start: 08.00 a.m.: tourist information office Sand in Taufers. For the journey to Rein in Taufers car pool will be formed. Walking time: 5-6 hours (walk of intermediate difficulty). Walking outfit, umbrella, food supply are required. Return around 05.00 p.m. Course of the walk: from Rein in Taufers (1,595 m, path 1) to the Hochgallhütte 2,276 m (Kassler Hütte) and direction Schneebiger Nock to the Malersee (2,501 m). On the same path back to Rein. Theme of the walk: We reach the glacier world of the Rieserferner through typical timber forest and over partly abandoned alpine pastures. Various rivulets, streams, waterfalls, fed from the perpetual snow of the high mountains, give a picture of the area abounding in water. On the Tristennöckl (2,465m) we can see how the cembra pine establishes its highest habitat in the field of the East Alps. Over detritus and morains we reach the edge of the flowing ice which the landscape has shaped decisively.
Start: 08.00 a.m.: tourist information office Sand in Taufers. For the trip to Pojen car pools will be formed. Walking time: 5-6 hours (easy walk). Walking outfit, rainwear and own food supply for the whole day are to be taken. Return around 05.00 p.m. Course of the walk: Ascent from Pojen (1,562 m) to the Pojen alpine pasture (path 33) and over the Durreck mountain way (10C) to the Kleines Jöchl (2,276 m). The descent goes over the Schlafhäuser (sleep houses) and further on path 10B to Ahornach. Theme of the walk: The walk leads into the valley of Pojen and shows various interesting aspects from the geological and morphological point of view. The alpine pasture landscape with moors and marshland gives an opportunity to learn about rare plants and particular animal societies. The panorama from the Kleines Jöchl is impressing; especially the variety of landscape pictures makes the day unforgettable.
Alpine resting areas: St. Johann - Faden - Obersteiner Holm - Niederkofler alpine pasture - St. Johann
Start: 08.30 a.m.: tourist information office St. Johann. Car pools to the Sandbichlerhof are recommended due to a lack of parking place. Walking time: 5-6 hours (walk of intermediate difficulty). Walking outfit, rainwear, own food supply (the snack station Niederhofer alpine pasture will only be reached in the afternoon) are to be taken. Return around 05.00 p.m. Course of the walk: From the Sandbichlerhof (1,463 m) on the path number 6 to Faden (2,136 m), from there it goes further on an unmarked footpath to Obersteiner Holm (2,395). The circular walk runs over the ridge of the Steiner Holm (number 6a) to the Niederhoher alpine pasture and to Sandbichl. Theme of the walk: A beautiful wood path leads us to the "Stöckl" on Faden, a view pulpit in the middle of a nearly untouched, highly alpine landscape with varying vegetation. This resting area is also a refuge for a rich fauna. Especially the observation of different bird species can enrich the walk. The massive mountain chain of the Zillertaler Alps lies directly in front of us and admits discoveries of various forms of erosion in the high mountains. The Obersteiner Holm offers a particular panorama view: Durreckgruppe, Rieserferner and the bottom of the valley opens a window to the distant Dolomites.
Start: 08.30 a.m.: station at the bottom end of Klausberg in Steinhaus Walking time: 5-6 hours (walk of intermediate difficulty). Walking outfit, rainwear and some own food supply (the snack station Hochfeldalm lies on the route of the walk) are to be taken. Return around 06.00 p.m. Course of the walk: From Steinhaus with the carlift to the station at the top of Klausberg (1,602 m), from there over the forest path number 2 to the Großklausental and further on the path number 7 to the Hochfeldalm in Bärental (1,837 m). The ascent over the Hochfeld (2,296 m) leads to the Moser Ebene (path 7a) and back to the mountain station Klausberg. Theme of the walk: Starting at the cultivated lands of the valley we cross typical highly alpine larch forests. Due to its safety function (from avalanches and rockfall), the forest is of decisive importance to the valley; but it will fulfill its task only if flora and fauna are harmonically correlated. Above the forest, the alpine pastures spread out which are the witnesses of life and work of men. The farmer has shaped the landscape and yet maintained in balance. Over generations he has seen sense and task in his work.
The mine at "Rötenbach": mine museum Prettau - Bergstöckl - Rötalm - Brugger Hütte - mine museum
Start: 08.00 a.m.: parking lot of the mine museum Prettau Walking time: approx. 5 hours (easy walk); walking outfit, rainwear and some food supply (as bases the Rötalm and the Bruggeralm offer their services) are to be taken. Return around 04.00 p.m. Course of the walk: From the mine museum it goes along the mine´s path (own mark) up to the Rötalm (2,116 m). A narrow path leads to the Brugger Hütte and from there back to the starting point. Theme of the walk: Following the traces of the historical mining, along the entrances of the gallaries and dilapidated pits, we walk back into history on the "Knappensteig" (qualified miners´path) until the beginnings of the ore extraction. Above the forest boundary we walk through one of the most beautiful high valleys of our country. Extensive alpine pastures which are managed by men over centuries characterize the landscape. The glaciers, too, have left their traces in form of moraines or glacier cuts at the Rötalm and Merbalm.
Start: 08.30 a.m.: parking lot in Kasern Walking time: around 5 hours (easy walk). Walking outfit, rainwear and own food supply for the whole day are to be taken. Return around 05.00 p.m. Course of the walk: From Kasern (1,595 m) on the "way of the Cross" to the pilgrimage church Hl. Geist. Now past the old customs guard of Trinkstein and on the historical Tauernweg number 14 to the upper Tauernalm (2,018 m). On a promising mountain way we get to the Hochwieser Alm and on the footpath number 15 to Kasern. With a conditionally good walking group we have our sights on the ascent to the Krimmler Tauern (2,633 m); over the Lausitzer footpath number 13 you then reach the Hl. Geist-Jöchl (ridge) and again to Kasern on mark number 15. Theme of the walk: Once there walked shepherds, hunters, farmers, smugglers, soldiers, road-makers, express messengers in important missions over the Krimmler Tauern. The Tauern-passages into the "Salzburgische" have a tradition over centuries. The meaning of exactly this historical path is underpinned by the church Hl. Geist. The area is also interesting due to its variety of flora and fauna. Furthermore, the deer pass over the mountain-ridges of the national park Hohe Tauern to our valley is worth mentioning.
We observe wild animals:
a) Kasern - Tauernweg - Windtal - Kasern b) St. Peter - Pürschtal - St. Peter
Start: a) 05.30 a.m.: Public parking lot in Kasern b) 05.30 a.m.: former fiscal barracks St. Peter Walking time: approx. 3-4 hours (easy walk); good shoes and warm clothes are necessary, a small food supply is belonging to it. Return around 01.00 p.m. Course of the walk: a) From Kasern we reach the end of the valley in Hl. Geist over the historical Tauernweg; the ideal observation posts are searched on the elevation of the Windtal or the Kerra-Alm. b) From the former fiscal barracks over the path number 2 into the Pürschtal.
Theme of the walk: Mountain farms and splendid alpine pasture landscapes accompany us on our way so that we also find time to talk about settlement, customs and way of life of men. The main emphasis constitutes the observation of animals which have chosen their habitat in the fantastic mountainous scenery. The areas show a good game population of chamboises, ibexes, deer and marmots. You can spot typical bird species of the high mountains, also birds of prey such as the golden eagle have wide repercussions in search of prey. The above given information comes from the office for nature parks.
