Hut Hiking in Austria

Try traildatabase.org. They pretty much cover the world, but it might take a little digging.

Ray,
here is a link to a few books in English language which might be helpful to you.
I will see what else I can come up with in the next few days.

[url]http://www.omnimap.com/catalog/guides/aust-hgd.htm[/url]

http://www.omnimap.com/catalog/guides/aust-hgd.htm

shoot, I forgot how to do those BB codes, will work on that, sorry!

Sure can, just completed a 10 day cycling and hiking tour through the Salzkammergut. Stunning views everywhere. Check the Salzkammergut web site, plenty of stuff for you. This area is the lake district east of Salzburg. You can get maps where you get there or have the TI office in Linz send some. Excellent service. Stay in Gosau and hike from the lake above it, one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Gorgeous hiking.
It gets better, after completing our first 10 day segment, we trained down about 2 hours SW of Salzburg to the Hochkonig region ( has a web site) and based ourselves in Maria Alm, one of 5 villages that sit at the base of this mtn area. Hike out the door of any pension. Stunning, they even have a hiking bus in the summer months. Can't miss here, the train goes to Seefelden and you bus to Maria Alm. Some cable cars run in summer for the hikers too.

I sent you a pm with a 2 night hut to hut hike near Salzburg. Sign in and go to your profile. Let me know if you need more info.

Thank you all for the replies and PMs. Very helpful indeed. We've mapped out a tentative hike (expanded to 4 days) and wanted to post it for comments. It's in the Zillertal area outside of Innsbruck, part of the rucksack route. Would go like this:

DAY 1: Mayrhofen to Olperhut : About 1hr 10min bus to Schlegeis, then 3km hike to Olperhut; website says 1.75 hr std but I can't find an actual time, assuming 3hrs

DAY 2: Olperhut to Friesenberg haus - 4km (3hr) hike; possible excursion to Peterskopfl

DAY 3: Friesenberg haus to Spannagelhaus - 5km, 1.5 Std but assume the same actual time as Olperhut to Friesenberg since the "std" is the same

DAY 4: Spannagelhaus to Hintertux to Mayrhofen- 6km hike, 2 Std so assuming about 4 hrs, then 45min bus to Mayrhofen to complete the trip

I need to validate the times and difficulty on each leg. Pretty comfortable with the first 2 days and am doubling the "standard" times listed as a rough estimate. Also assuming it is all easy to moderate without the use of ropes.

Would appreciate any confirmation of assumptions or input to correct any assumptions. If anyone has done this before, even better!

Thanks. This is for my wife's 50th birthday.

Ray

bump - still hoping for some input.

Thanks.

Ray

bump - still hoping for input

Ray

bump again. Looking for resources not listed already which will help judge the type of hiking listed (difficulty, length, skill required, etc).

Thanks.

Ray

Ray, if I could possibly help you with personal experience I would. I have looked into several hut to hut treks in Austria, but in the end each time we opted for Switzerland or the Dolomites instead.

However, since you asked for more resources, here are two more: "Walking Austria's Alps, Hut to Hut", by Johnathan Hurdle. I have this book and some of the descriptions of exposure on ridges and crossing high snowfield seemed a bit daunting.

Another, more specific to your proposed route in the Zillertal, would be "Trekking in the Zillertal Alps---Hut to Hut Walks". This is a Cicerone guide which is a series I know to be very good.

The only people I know who have done hut to hut trekking in Austria are very pretty experienced mountianeers. They are accustomed both to difficult conditions and to rough sleeping in the huts. But there may be other places that are not as difficult.

I've got the following books from Cicerone

1. Trekking in the Zillertal Alps (rucksack route)
2. Walking in Austria
3. 100 Hut Walks in the Alps

I'll have to look for the other books you mention. Of the 3 nites planned, I'm very comfortable with 2 but the hike from Freisenberg Haus to Spannagel Haus is what I'm missing. I know that some of the hikes involve ropes and more hiking experience so I'm trying to avoid them.

I appreciate all the help and can use more!!

Ray

OK--try Google but spell it "Friesenberg Haus". The first four websites that pop up are informative.

One is a lovely full-color brochure in German. (pdf so I don't know how to post a link). It says, "Friesenberg Haus zum. Spannagl Haus (Z: ca. 3 Std., nur für. Geübte, der Weg über Firnfelder und. Moränen)

That means it is "only for experienced" and crosses over snowfields and moraines. Other websites describe this as a cross-country route over a "Sharte" or saddle.

You might try poking around the website for the Uk section of the Austrian Alpine Club (OeAV):

http://www.aacuk.org.uk/?navid=193

There may be a place where you can post questions.

Thank Lola. I didn't check the spelling before posting. :) Your info regarding that section of hike has been a key piece for me, thank you.

I've gotten Hurdle book on hiking and have been able to sort out a route. I'll post it once I have worked out a few details.

Ray

Here is our proposed itinerary, comments welcome

Fly into MUC arrive Tue 7/20
spend 2 nites in Mayrhofen (or one in Munich, one in Mayrhofen)
Hike to Furtschagl Haus (7km, 3.5 hrs), spend the nite
Hike to Olperer Hut, about 5hrs, with a stop for lunch (Jausenstat) before ascending to Olperer Hut, spend the nite
Hike to Friesenbert Haus, 3 hrs, spend the nite
Hike back down

I don't think any of these legs are difficult and should provide some nice views. Would be interested in anyone's thoughts.

Thanks to all who have left me messages and commented here, it's been a great help. Couldn't have put this together without the input.

Things are really firming up and I thank everyone for the excellent input. Here is our proposed itinerary for the hiking portion.

Day 1 : Arrive Munich 840A; have lunch, get supplies, stop at the DAV, then take a 15:31 train to Mayrhofen.

Day 2 : get oriented and hang around Mayrhofen

Day 3 : take 7:55 bus to Schlegeis and hike to Furtschaglhaus

Day 4 : hike to Olperer Hut

Day 5 : hike to Friesenberghutte

Day 6 : hike back to Schlegeis, take bus back to Mayrhofen, then 15:07 train to Salzburg.

We have 2 nites reservations at the Pension Waldheim (half board).

Any input on this pension or the itinerary as a whole? Would be interested in train ticket strategies too as this is a bit hard for me to figure out.

Thanks.

Ray