This Guide
Paths, Tracks and Waymarks
Paths throughout the Hohe Tauern are waymarked roughly every hundred metres with a daub of red paint.
At intersections, paths frequently have a signpost or alternatively have a red and white paint marker with a designated path number; this in turn is cross-referenced by maps and guidebooks including this one.
Emergency information on a signpost
A Helicopter recognition number
B Telephone number for mountain rescue
C European emergency services
D Grid references
E Altitude
Routes described in this guide, such as on the Reichen Group Runde Tour and the Venediger Hohenweg vary from traditional mountain paths to tracks across boulder fields and rough ground. There is also steep ground, late summer snow and fixed wire ropes here and there to aid stability.
Paths for hut-to-hut routes are frequently marked with a signpost just outside the hut, which will give the standard time in hours for the distance between huts without stops (treat these times with caution: see below).
The tracks onto and across glaciers are not normally marked as the route may vary from year to year. Also if venturing onto glaciers you are expected to have the necessary know-how and route finding skills. However, sometimes the local guides will place marker poles on the glacier to aid route finding, such as on the heavily crevassed Obersulzbach Kees glacier.
Where the route follows a river, stream or glacier and reference is made to the left or right bank, this is when viewed in the direction of flow. So when ascending the left bank will be on your right. To avoid confusion, efforts have been made throughout the text to add a compass bearing to ensure that you go in the right direction!
In general, no great demand will be made on your route-finding skills. If there are any places that require particular care, they will be highlighted in a pale blue box at the end of the description. However route-finding is naturally made much more difficult in mist, rain and snow.
Please note that routes may change from the published description as a result of landslips, avalanches and erosion.
Route descriptions and sketch maps
The routes described follow recognised paths and tracks corresponding to those indicted on maps and signposts.
However, to aid route-finding across unfamiliar ground, each daily tour itinerary is fully described and illustrated with a sketch map indicating the main topographical features that will be observed en route.
Route grading
The route described is for people who are already involved in some sort of mountain activity on a regular basis. It goes without saying that the tours are moderately strenuous and require the ability to carry a full pack for an average of six hours a day. In terms of alpine grading, the majority of the routes fall into the mountaineering grade of easy to moderate, comprising sustained mountain walking, requiring the ability to negotiate steep ground, scramble over rocks, cross late summer snow, make use of fixed wire ropes and have a good head for heights.
MOUNTAIN GRADES
Alpine ascents are often given a descriptive mountaineering grade:
F Facile – easy
PD Peu Difficile – a little bit difficult
AD Assez Difficile – quite difficult
Plus or minus signs are often added to these grades to signify that they are at the higher or lower end of the grade respectively.
Technical climbing ascents are also sometimes given a UIAA (International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation) technical grade:
I British grade of moderate
II British grade of difficult
III British grade of very difficult/mild severe
Standard times
At the beginning of each route description a standard time in hours (stunden) is quoted as an estimate of time required from hut to hut. This standard time generally equates to that given in the Austrian Alpine Club’s green Hut Book. The standard time stated is for hours spent moving and does not include lunch stops and other breaks. Most British parties find some difficulty in meeting standard times indicated by signposts outside huts. Do not worry. A lot of these standard times are unattainable or seem to have been set by Olympic athletes. With this in mind, the route descriptions in this book give the actual time required when carrying a heavy rucksack.
If you undertake any of the tours with children you are advised to add at least one hour to the given time to allow for frequent picnic stops. Similarly, aspirant alpinists should make due allowance to the standard time while they learn the rudiments of glacier travel and the very time-consuming activities of roping up and putting crampons on and taking them off.
MOUNTAIN TERMINOLOGY
The following German words may be useful in route-finding and getting about.
Maps and Guidebooks
The following are available from the UK Section of the Austrian Alpine Club.
Also useful and available from major map retailers are:
Freytag & Berndt Wanderkarte sheet 152 scale 1:50,000 (Mayrhofen-Zillertaler Alpen-Gerlos-Krimml).
Rudolf Rother Wanderkarte 1:50,000 scale (Glockner, Granatspitz and Venediger groups).
For guidebooks, see Appendix C (Further Reading).
Alpine Walking Skills
So how do the skills you need for walking in the Hohe Tauern differ from those needed for walking elsewhere?
Boots
It really is essential that you have a relatively stiff boot with good ankle support and a stout Vibram-type rubber sole. Many of the walks involve sustained hard walking over rocky slopes and glacial debris plus encounters with patches of old hard snow. It is important to think of your boots as tools that can be used to kick steps and to jam into rocky cracks without causing damage to your feet. While bendy boots may be a tad lighter and more comfortable they are no match for a good pair of four-season mountaineering boots when it comes to dealing with difficult ground.
Some basic Alpine walking kit
Instep Crampons or Microspikes
While crampons are normally associated with climbing, a pair of these little tools (pictured) comes in very handy when the weather decides to dump some unseasonable snow in August and they may just help provide that little bit of extra security when you get up close to some old hard-packed snow.
Improvised Harness
Many of the routes are equipped with fixed wire ropes to aid some support over bits of difficult terrain. While these maybe relatively easy to cross, the consequences of a fall could be serious. Also not everyone is vertigo free and the use of an improvised harness will help provide confidence and security of passage. Constructed from a 2m long x 10mm wide Dyneema sling, three or four overhand knots and a large screw gate karabiner (see picture above), it will allow you to clip into those fixed wires whenever the need arises and arrest a fall when you least expect it!