My brother and I hiked from Gimmelwald, Switzerland and stayed in the rustic chalets recommended in Rick Steves. You could only reach the chalet by cable car.
Does anyone have a similar experience in the Tirol area of Austria or in the Hohe Tauern National Park Region of Austria?
Lech am Arlberg has tons of great hiking. We were there last August and loved the area. We stayed at a family farm and B&B called Pension Juliana...great place and great price. Best of all when you stay in Lech you get the Lech Card which gives you free access to all of the lifts and hiking buses in the area. http://www.lechzuers.com/lech-in-summer/ http://www.everettpotter.com/2010/06/lech-austria-a-walk-in-the-alps/
http://www.juliana.at/?lang=en
Check the Tirolean tourist bureau out of Innsbruck to see if they address serious mountain hiking. The scenery from the top of the mountains in Tirol is absolutely incredible. Some of the best scenery I've ever experienced in this world.
There are 100s, maybe a 1000, huts affiliated with the Austrian Alpine Society. http://www.alpenverein.at/portal/ There are also several books with suggested itineraries.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=austria+huts I have done this several times and it is fantastic.