Trekking in Austria's Hohe Tauern. Allan Hartley

in descent.

STAGE 2

      Plauener Hut to Birnlucken Hut

Start	Plauener Hut
Finish	Birnlucken Hut
Distance	12km
Total Ascent	A lot of up and down
Time	7hrs

      This mountain journey is characterised simply as being a long way. The standard time is 7hrs which is fine if you are fit, however if you are carrying a big bag allow all day, be on your way early and telephone the Birnlucken hut to book a bed.

      This is a splendid long-distance promenade through fabulous scenery with nice little challenges thrown in. The scenic interest early in the day is dominated by the Rauchkofel (3252m) which may take its name for its rough-jagged ridges, or maybe because of the way the cloud hangs from its north face like woodsmoke, hence the name, ‘Smoking Mountain’; my preference is for the latter.

      Thereafter the route becomes hemmed in as the head of the Zillergrundl narrows until the crossing of the Geistjochl (2708m) into Italy, when the Ahrntal valley opens up. Hereafter the route picks up a trail traversing the mountainside, crossing four spurs, each quite steep and each protected by fixed wire ropes to aid stability.

      After crossing the second ridge the rest of the journey is scenically dominated by the vastness of the Drei Herrn Spitz or Picco del tre Signori (3498m) with its jagged ridges and hanging glaciers.