Zillertal Alps

For our next trip in the mountains we have chosen the area of ​​the Zillertal Alps. After a short search we find free parking at the local school. Near the train station we also find a bus stop. We prepare the necessary things, change into trekking shoes, replenish our water supplies and take the bus up towards Gerlos. A comfortable bus climbs serpentines even higher behind Gerlos to the durlassboden dam for about three-quarters of an hour.

It starts to rain a little, but it can not be scattered, because we are hungry for another adventure and especially according to the forecast, the weather will improve significantly in the next few hours.

Our destination today is the cottage Zittauer Hutte at an altitude of 2300m.nm, which is a 4-hour walk from the dam. First we climb slightly up a comfortable wide footpath, which copies the dam lake, after a while we hide from the rain and then we put on raincoats. The section further widens the valley slightly and in the next lake at the end of the road there is a cruise restaurant. Here begins a proper climb, It leads along a stormy stream with several interesting cascades to the next stage of the valley.

From here you can see a beautifully situated cottage. Following a boldly led path, we climb up along the high waterfall that flows from our cottage. At the edge of the rock step, we begin to cover the mist.

The mist clouds, however, are receding after a while and the surrounding scenery opens in all its beauty. We see an unbelievable panorama of the surrounding glaciers, and in one place called Gletscherblick there is also an information board that monitors and interestingly describes the retreat of glaciers over the last decades.

We cross the first snow fields to Zittauer Hutrte. It is beautifully situated at the unusually large lake Gerlossee.

For today, however, we have enough in the exhausting heat, so about 6 hours of car ride and a five-hour trek we like to use the hospitality of the cottage and finish this great day in its bowels and add the lost ions to good Austrian beer.

Tomorrow we are looking for a slightly more complicated journey ......

I would also like to comment on what period we usually go to the Alps. We have never been to the Alps in high season,. that is, July or August. We do not want to meet crowds of tourists. We want to enjoy the mountains in their quiet and undisturbed beauty. We often choose more remote, less known places. This can sometimes bring complications in the form of impassable paths or closed chats. 

The chalets we chose for this trek are open only for a few days and the main onslaught will only be experienced in the coming weeks and months. 

In the morning, the sky is azure blue and, together with the surrounding environment and panoramas of the surrounding XNUMX-meter peaks, it looks really fabulous. It's time to throw your backpacks on your back, prepare trekking poles, tighten your shoelaces properly and set off. Our destination today is the cottage Plauener hutte, which should be about seven hours walk away. Between it is also the cottage Richter hutte, where we would like to relax about halfway and continue. 

On the way, we have to overcome some mountain seats and plan to climb Mount Richterspitze, which is several yards ahead of the 3000 m. A little below is the Gamsscharte, which is missing a few meters to 3000.

The road from Zittauer Hutte first leads along the lake and then climbs left and steeper up to the Roskarscharte saddle. It is located at an altitude of about 2700 m above sea level and a short distance before you can turn to the mountain Rosskopf, which is quite easily accessible due to its round shape. In front of the saddle there is another snow field and a view opens up to another valley, where we are still looking in vain for our next destination. The crossing of Roskar Scharte is really steep and it is necessary to take a certain step in some places. Next, we descend along stone fields and mountain meadows to a small lake. 

Here we treat ourselves to a well-deserved rest, a picnic from the supplies we carry on our backs and also a cool foot bath in the ice water of a small ball. 

Behind this lake, the road turns right into the side valley and we can already see our next destination in the Richter Hutte hut. It looks really far at first glance. We go a little lower and we lose the hard meters climbed. In some places, the footpath is really airy over rocky slides, but even these key places can be safely overcome with a little concentration. Although I wouldn't want to walk through them in the snow or icicles. The path will take us about another two hundred meters down the cottage where we cross a stream springing somewhere up in the glacier. When overcoming one snow field under which the stream flows, there is even a break in the ice crust and one of us falls into the stream.

Fortunately, it does without major complications and the only memory is a little wet in the shoes and a lot of laughter. After a while we climb the steep path of the Richter Hutte hut again.

Today we really have quite a lot, we are here in about five hours and it seems that we will have at least another five hours. We refresh ourselves with the Radler on tap and we figure out where to go. The roof of the cottage is being repaired by some Slovak roofers and it seems that this cottage is currently closed to dormitories.

When we tilt our heads to see our next target, it takes our breath away. The Gamscharte saddle is located about 700 meters above sea level. From what we see, the way to it will certainly not be easy and, unfortunately, not safe. It is full of steep snow fields and we did not pack ice axes and cats with us in the imagination of the coming summer and high temperatures.

Well, which is no other option, we have to somehow get to our next destination, where we already have a booked night. At this point, I would like to make a small remark for those who do not go to these huts and the Alps for hiking very often. Every time you leave from one cottage to another, or you set out from the cottage for a trip, it is good to sign up in the tour book.

It is located near the entrance to the cottage or directly in the restaurant and it is good to write your name, your upcoming destination and the date and time of your departure. In the event of an unexpected event and the mountain service has to take care of your survival, this can help a lot

After a short rest, we throw heavy backpacks on our backs and go up. First you go slowly along the stream - It is crossed and followed by a number of steep serpenti. Here it still goes because the road leads through solid and dry land. A little further on, we come to the first snow field. The next one has the character of a black piste. In practice, this means that if you slip on it, it is likely that you will end up in somersaults a few hundred meters lower. So in case you don't stop on the way for a stone. And so we climb higher and higher over very steep terrain. The snow field is sometimes replaced by rocky moraine.

Suddenly we come to places where we no longer see tourist signs. Sporadic markings in the saddle are still under the snow. Now we have a problem with orientation. Which is clearly the goal above us, but we are thinking about how to get to it as safely as possible. Here we are already in the realm of snow and ice, so we zigzag at an altitude of about 2800 m on a steep snow field and try to watch our every step.

We are all here together, but at the same time each for himself. We all know that if one's foot slipped, no one could help him and his fall would end down about 100m. Nevertheless, we get breathlessly to the saddle and we are looking forward to pumping with adrenaline that it will be much better behind him. The last meters to Scharte were supposed to be secured with a steel rope, unfortunately due to the high layer of snow it is hidden somewhere under it, so the last few meters with clenched teeth I jump to the safety of flat terrain.

We no longer have the strength or desire to get out of the saddle a few dozen more meters on the Richterspitzre. We want to be behind the lights in the cottage if possible. Finally we are here, on the other hand, the secured Via Ferrata is to continue. We don't see the first security from here, so we dress in seats, hide trekking poles for backpacks and take out safety carabiners. and we put on helmets.

The first protection is located about 30 m behind the saddle, At first the road looks quite feasible. How happy we are to click on the steel safety after uncertain steps in steep snow fields.

Ferrata shouldn't be hard. It has a classification of C, but in these conditions and snow it can be quite interesting. This is confirmed even after a few tens of meters,. because well-secured sections alternate with unsecured places. This would not normally be a problem in a drought. In the snow, however, they represent a further increase in heart rate and adrenaline levels. Especially overcoming the frozen ditch, under which the bubbling stream rumbles, is a quite interesting adrenaline experience after the previous experience with the collapse of the snow bridge.

This is followed by security again. Here it is perfectly done with many curls and overhangs, and under it we can finally see a firm ground. So if the snowy plains can be called it.

Finally, we sweep the last steps and congratulate ourselves on the limit of exhaustion that we have mastered this test without any harm.

We stumble to our dormitory today over extensive snow fields. Only a slight slope descends to the beautifully situated cottage Plauener. It is located high. . above another dam reservoir named Zillergrund

Then, when we talk about the beer, the experience of transiting the saddle and the ferraty is enough to laugh at it. Right now you realize the beauty of the mountains and the shared experiences with your friends. The bloody bodies lie in a common matratzen camp, and in a while we are asleep as if we were in the water.

In the morning we are just waiting for a deserted descent to the reservoir dam From where the bus goes to Mayrhofen. In two and a half hours walking in the beautiful countryside we are at the stop.

even free toilets are opened and since this place is already quite busy, the bus is busy quite often

He first dives into a tunnel dug inside the mountain, then enters under a dam and continues along the river below, which has the name of the whole valley, to the administrative center of Mayrhofen. 7

Here we get to the train station and take a few stops back to the Zell am Ziller

It was really gorgeous even though a demanding extended weekend.