Trekking in Austria's Hohe Tauern. Allan Hartley

leader (the middle man if there are three of you) is back on the surface it is just about possible for the group leader and anchorman to haul the rope leader to the surface, using the Prusik loops to lock off the hauling rope. In this scenario a full-blown mountain rescue is perhaps the correct decision.

      The UK Section of the Austrian Alpine Club organises basic training for glacier crossing and crevasse rescue through the OeAV Bergsteigerschule. Contact the AAC Office for details.

      The National Mountain Centre at Plas y Brenin also runs similar introductory courses. Contact www.pyb.co.uk.

      A DVD of ‘Alpine Essentials’ is also available from the British Mountaineering Council (BMC).

KIT LIST

      As a general principle a good rule is: one on, one off. When travelling as a group try to share items that have a commonality of equipment to minimise the weight each person has to carry. For example you will only need one comprehensive first aid kit, one repair kit, one set of maps, one guidebook, one phrase book, one pair of binoculars, and only one set of spare batteries if all the headlamps are the same.

       Rucksack (50 litre)

       Boots (suitable for all seasons)

       Trekking poles (optional)

       Long socks (2 pairs)

       Short socks (2 pairs)

       Trousers or breeches

       Shorts (optional)

       Underwear (3 pairs)

       Shirts (2)

       Pullover

       Fleece jacket

       Waterproofs, jacket and trousers

       Hat, gloves

       Gaiters (optional)

       Torch or headlamp

       Toiletries plus small towel

       Water bottle or Thermos flask

       First aid kit with sun cream and lip salve

       Sunglasses plus spare

       Repair kit: needle and thread, super glue, candle, binding wire

       Pocket knife

       Selection of polythene bags

       Maps and compass

       Whistle

       Notepad and pencil

       Hohe Tauern guidebook (this one!)

       Emergency gear, bivvy bag, food rations

       Personal optional items, such as: German phrase book, camera, film, binoculars

      Also recommended for walkers

       1 set of instep crampons or Microspikes

       1 2m long x 10mm wide Dyneema tape sling with a large screwgate karabiner

      Should you intend to climb some of the peaks then you will need to add the following to your kit and know how to use them:

       Ice axe

       Crampons

       2 large slings with screw gate karabiners

       3 Prussik loops

       Climber’s harness

       Ice screw

       2 spare karabiners

       A length of climber’s rope such as 50m x 9mm for each group of 3 people

       A small selection of slings with nuts/a pulley/universal rock piton

      Other items, which are useful (one of each within a group) are:

       Altimeter

       Ice hammer

       Dead boy

       Snow belay

       Figure of eight abseil device

       Prusiking devices such as Petzl Tibloc or Wild Country Ropeman

      Hut wear

       Lightweight change of clothes

       Hut shoes or socks

       Trousers

       Shirt

       Sheet sleeping bag

       Inflatable pillow

      Statue of Annasaule on Maria Theresien Strasse looking toward the Alte Stadt

Mountain Guides

      Professional mountain guides (Bergfuehreren) can be hired direct through the UK Section of the Austrian Alpine Club, through the British Association of International Mountain Leaders (www.baiml.org), in Mayrhofen through Peter Habeler’s Office on Haupt Strasse, in Matrei in Ost Tyrol via the Guide’s Office on Rauterplatz ([email protected]), and in Kals am Grossglockner via the Guide’s Office ([email protected]).

      I can also recommend my good friends Harry Holl ([email protected]), Hannes Bartl ([email protected]) and Hannes Wettstein, Nr 167, A-6152 Trins, Tyrol, Austria.

THE REICHEN GROUP

      The sign on the bridge says ‘single file only’ but boys will be boys!

INTRODUCTION AND TOPOGRAPHY

      This little-known, compact group of mountains is tucked away at the western extremity of the Hohe Tauern National Park merging with the mountains of the Zillertal and the western edge of the Venediger.

      Two main valleys split the group: firstly the Zillergrund, which runs above the resort town of Mayrhofen and contains the villages of In der Au and Barenbad; and secondly, on the northern side of the group, running from the small town of Krimml, is the Krimmler Achental valley famed for its three-tiered waterfall, the highest in Europe.

      To the north of the group is the main Inn valley, while to the south is the border with Italy and South Tyrol which was annexed to Italy after the First World War.

      The group takes its name from its principal mountain, the Reichen Spitze (3303m), which is something of a mini Matterhorn, when viewed from the south. There are another dozen other peaks over 3000m, the most popular being the Wildergerlos Spitze (3280m) and the Richter Spitze (3054m). The group is easily accessible from Mayrhofen and this provides a good starting point for tours leading into the Venediger.

      THE REICHEN DWARVES AND THEIR HOARDS

      The Reichen Spitze is also said to contain hoards of gold, silver and precious stones treasure which at one time were guarded by the Reichen Dwarves. Rumour has it that the mythical giant the ‘Venedigermanndl’ from the Venediger raided the mountain and found the treasure. Overcome by greed and weighed down with his booty he fell into a crevasse and was never to be seen again, though the dwarfs continue their search to recover the treasure.

      Hut-to-Hut Routes

      As with most groups of mountains in Austria the Reichen Group has its own hut-to-hut Rucksack Route which is ideal for groups of mixed ability.

      The hut-to-hut