Walking in Austria. Kev Reynolds

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      WALKING IN AUSTRIA

      by Kev Reynolds

      2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Kev Reynolds first led mountain holidays in Austria in 1967, since when he has returned to walk, trek and climb there on numerous occasions. A freelance author and photojournalist, he has written and illustrated brochures on walking in Austria for the Austrian National Tourist Office, produced publicity material for local tourist authorities there, and organised walking holidays for travel companies in several Austrian provinces.

      A member of the Alpine Club, Austrian Alpine Club, and the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, Kev was the first honorary member of the British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML). He is author of more than 40 books, including guides to the Alps, Pyrenees and Himalaya, and several on walking in southern England.

      In 2013 Cicerone published a collection of short stories and anecdotes gathered from Kev’s 50-year mountain career, with the title A Walk in the Clouds. When not trekking or climbing in one of the world’s great ranges, he lives among what he calls ‘the Kentish Alps’ and during the winter months travels throughout Britain to share his enthusiasm for the high places in a variety of lectures. Check him out on www.kevreynolds.co.uk.

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      100 Hut Walks in the Alps

      Alpine Pass Route

      Chamonix to Zermatt

      Écrins National Park

      The Swiss Alps

      Tour of Mont Blanc

      Tour of the Jungfrau Region

      Tour of the Oisans: The GR54

      Tour of the Vanoise

      Trekking in the Alps

      Trekking in the Silvretta and Rätikon Alps

      Walking in the Alps

      Walking in the Bernese Oberland

      Walking in the Valais

      Walks in the Engadine

      © Kev Reynolds 2016

      Second edition 2016

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 859 0

      First edition 2009

      Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd.

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      All photographs are by the author.

      For mountain lovers everywhere.

      Acknowledgements

      In four decades of enjoyment of the Austrian Alps I have benefited from the kindness, generosity and hospitality of countless people. In particular I have Marian Telsnig (onetime Press Officer at the ANTO) to thank for giving me many opportunities to explore her mountains and introduce them to others. The late Cecil Davies, author of the first Cicerone guide to Austria, was always generous with information and advice, whilst officials at the YHA, Inghams and Thomson Holidays enabled me at various times to earn money in Austria by doing what I love most. It was a pleasure and a privilege to lead literally scores of walkers on routes in these mountains, and I gained much from them all. To Alan Henson, Dave Horley, Grazyna Tlaczala and Lise Winther, my thanks for update information. As ever, I’m in awe of the Cicerone team in Milnthorpe who have managed to create this guidebook from my skeleton manuscript with their skills and talents – my thanks too for their continued friendship, which counts for much. And lastly, for all the days and trails, huts, camps and cols we’ve shared in mountains around the world, my love and gratitude for my wife makes this her book as much as it is mine.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/859/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

      Front cover: From the shores of the Lünersee, walkers gain a distant view of the Schesaplana, left (Rätikon Alps, Route 2)

      CONTENTS

       Map Key

       Overview Map

       Introduction

       Austria’s Alps

       Mountain Flowers

       Wildlife

       Getting There

       Transport within Austria

       Accommodation

       The Austrian Alpine Club

       The Routes

       Equipment

       Recommended Maps

       Using this Guide

       1 Rätikon Alps

       Introduction

       Route 1 Douglass Hut – Lünersee Circuit – Douglass Hut

       Route 2 Douglass Hut – Totalp Hut – Lünersee Alm – Douglass Hut

       Route 3 Douglass Hut – Schesaplana

       Route 4 Douglass Hut – Cavelljoch – Douglass Hut

       Route 5 Rätikon Höhenweg Nord

       Route