Hohe Tauern, Austria
Day 11 Monday 25th June 2018
Donnerstein Ridge Walk
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A stunning and exposed mountain walk, visiting the idyllic Zupalsee lake and traversing the ridge line straddling the Virgental and Defereggental. The views from the ridge and the summit of the Donnerstein are superb
Grade: Moderate/Hard
Distance: 13.6 km (8.3 miles)
Ascent/Descent : 700 m
Time: 5 ~ 6 hours
Distance to Start:
Terrain: An exposed ridge walk and steep scree descent.
Getting There: From Matrei, follow the road west to Virgin. After the Gasthof Rose, turn left towards the river. After the fire station turn left and follow the road down to cross the river, then continue right to reach the car park. Take the pre-booked taxi to the Wetterkreuzhütte. Bookings can be made on www.aim-ferienhaus.com/taxi or by phone on +43 (0) 4874 5227. The taxi journey takes 30 minutes and reaches the Wetterkreuzhütte at 2,106 m
Map ref: goo.gl/maps/NrsC3fPTxtQ2
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| Day |
To |
Distance |
Time |
Elevation in meters |
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Km |
Elapsed
Hrs-Mins |
Moving
Hrs-Mins |
Gain |
Loss |
Min |
Max |
| 11 |
Donnerstein Ridge |
14.03 |
5H06 |
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759 |
759 |
2,091 |
2,694 |
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Arriving at Wetterkreushütte after a 30 minute taxi van ride
| From the Wetterkreuzhütte, follow path 79 south, ascending the track past a cross on the right. After 300 meters reach a fork and keep right, taking the lower path. Follow this as it undulates for 1.5 km to reach a cross roads, with a small peak visible ahead. |
| Turn right here, heading due west to soon reach a signpost. Take the left fork here, following path 90 to contour on a good path all the way to the Zupalseehütte. |
Zupalseehütte
Climbing away from Zupalseehütte
Lunch just below the ridge line
| From the hut the path to the ridge line can be clearly seen ahead. Follow path 79a as it ascends initially gently before before becoming progressively steeper, finally ascending a series of steep switchbacks to reach the exposed saddle on the ridge line. |
The Donnerstein ridge
Griften 2,720 m
Looking back down to Zupalseehütte from the ridge
| The ridge route begins here; follow the ridge right on the rocky and exposed terrain, but always with a good path, to cross a small rise. Descend a vague col and then ascend again up rugged terrain to arrive just below the Donnerstein. The path forks here; continue right to ascend up to the summit of the Donnerstein, with stunning views in all directions. |
Looking back along the ridge towards Griften
Looking back along our route
Using the "Stemple" at Speikboden Peak
| The most exposed section of the walk complete, continue to reach the smaller summit of the Speikboden, marked by a large cross. Just below the Speikboden, turn right to follow waymarks onto a steep path descending through scree and loose terrain; this section requires sure footed ness and is quite hard on the knees. |
| Reach the boulder field in the valley below and follow a vague path through this towards a small lake. Reach a signpost and join path 23; from here the path improves considerably and the going is much easier. Keep right and follow the path to undulate and climb gently around a promontory, rounding the corner until the Zupalseehütte comes back into view. |
Contouring back round to Zupalseehütte
Back to Wetterkreuzhütte by 4 p.m.
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