Pinzgau Ridgeway
Encyclopedia
The Pinzgau Ridgeway is a roughly 25 kilometre long ridgeway
in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austria
n federal state of Salzburg.
valley at a height of around 2,000 metres along the crest that separates the high Alpine valley from the Glemmtal
to the north. The entire route lies in the region known as the Pinzgau
.
The mountain trail begins on the high Schmittenhöhe
, the local mountain for the town of Zell am See
, which can be reached by cable car. From there it runs westwards over the Kettingtörl to the Kettingkopf , south of which is the Pinzgau Hut
, an important base for the Pinzgau Ridgeway. The ridgeway continues, in places, along the crest itself, but mainly runs just below it on its southern side. Long climbs are rare, the path mainly lying between and . En route there are several refuge huts at crossings such as the high Klammscharte ridge or the high Klingertörl. A number of alpine hut
s (Almhütten) along the ridgeway offer overnight accommodation. Several variations of the route enable summits to be ascended, such as those of the Maurerkogel , the Hochkogel , the Bärensteigkopf , the Manlitzkogel or the Leitenkogel . The route then via over the high Bürgl Hut
through the Mühlbach valley down to Stuhlfelden
in the Salzach valley.
or the Sonnbergalm. The Pinzgau Ridgeway is part of Route 02 A, a Austrian long-distance path.
The particular attraction of this trail is its constant view of the highest summits of Austria's High Tauern and the valley of the River Salzach before them. In the western section the ridgeway has impressive views of the Zillertal Alps
. The crest itself is part of the Kitzbühel Alps, whose gently, only rarely rocky slate summits, belong to the greywacke zone
.
. If only half the route is walked, there is the option of ascending or descending on the cable car from Saalbach-Hinterglemm to the high Schattberg
, about four kilometres north of the Hochkogel. In addition, there are other connecting routes from the Glemmtal, such as the one via the Streitbergalm . To the south, in the Salzach valley are other short cuts, for example, to Niedernsill
.
The Pinzgau Ridgeway is part of the 02 A long-distance trail, a variation of the Central Alpine Way (Zentralalpenweg) from Hainburg an der Donau
to Feldkirch
. A section of this trail runs from the Pinzgau Ridgeway, crossing the Low and High Tauern as well as the Salzburg Slate Alps. To the west a trail continues from the Bürglhaus via the Thurn Pass and the Zillertal Alps
to the New Bamberg Hut
.
The Pinzgau Ridgeway is also part of the Arno Way (Arnoweg), a circular trail, that runs almost around the entire state of Salzburg. It is joined in the east by another trail that crosses the Dienten Mountains, to the west the trail follows the border with Tyrol as far as the Gerlos Pass
, where it swings away to the south.
Ridgeway
A ridgeway is a road or path that follows a ridge, or the highest part of the landscape.-Roads and pathways:*The Ridgeway, an ancient track in southern England, which now forms part of the Ridgeway Path or National Trail...
in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n federal state of Salzburg.
Location and route
The ridgeway runs parallel to the SalzachSalzach
The Salzach is a river in Austria and Germany. It is a right tributary of the Inn and is 225 kilometres in length.The river's name is derived from the German word Salz, meaning "salt". Until the 19th century shipping of salt down the river was an important part of the local economy...
valley at a height of around 2,000 metres along the crest that separates the high Alpine valley from the Glemmtal
Glemmtal
The Glemmtal in the Austrian state of Salzburg is the valley of the roughly 30 km long upper reaches of the River Saalach. It belongs to the northern Pinzgau region and separates the Kitzbühel Alps in an east-west direction...
to the north. The entire route lies in the region known as the Pinzgau
Pinzgau
The Bezirk Zell am See is an administrative district in the federal state of Salzburg, Austria, and congruent with the Pinzgau region....
.
The mountain trail begins on the high Schmittenhöhe
Schmittenhöhe
The Schmittenhöhe is a mountain, high, on the eastern edge of the Kitzbühel Alps. It is the local mountain of the district capital of Zell am See, from where a cable car was built in 1927 by Adolf Bleichert & Co. that runs to the summit. The cable car system has been renovated several times since...
, the local mountain for the town of Zell am See
Zell am See
Zell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The city has about 10,000 inhabitants.Zell am See is a tourist destination and a transportation hub for the region...
, which can be reached by cable car. From there it runs westwards over the Kettingtörl to the Kettingkopf , south of which is the Pinzgau Hut
Pinzgau Hut
The Pinzgau Hut is a mountain hut at 1,700 m above sea level in the Kitzbühel Alps in Austria, somewhat west of the Zellersee and Zell am See's local mountain, the Schmittenhöhe ....
, an important base for the Pinzgau Ridgeway. The ridgeway continues, in places, along the crest itself, but mainly runs just below it on its southern side. Long climbs are rare, the path mainly lying between and . En route there are several refuge huts at crossings such as the high Klammscharte ridge or the high Klingertörl. A number of alpine hut
Alpine hut
A mountain hut is a building located in the mountains intended to provide food and shelter to mountaineers, climbers and hikers. Mountain huts are usually operated by a section of an Alpine Club...
s (Almhütten) along the ridgeway offer overnight accommodation. Several variations of the route enable summits to be ascended, such as those of the Maurerkogel , the Hochkogel , the Bärensteigkopf , the Manlitzkogel or the Leitenkogel . The route then via over the high Bürgl Hut
Bürgl Hut
The Bürgl Hut is a private mountain hut at in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austrian federal state of Salzburg.The formerly self-catering hut is today partially managed The Bürgl Hut is a private mountain hut at in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austrian federal state of Salzburg.The formerly...
through the Mühlbach valley down to Stuhlfelden
Stuhlfelden
Stuhlfelden is a municipality in the district of Zell am See , in the state of Salzburg in Austria. The population is 1539....
in the Salzach valley.
Character
The Pinzgau Ridgeway is a relatively easy and well-signed hiking trail without any major technical difficulties; only some of the variations over the summits are more challenging. There are no major differences in height to be conquered; in all the route climbs some 500 metres if the cable car to the Schmittenhöhe is taken at the beginning. Although there are several options to tackle the route over several days, experienced hikers can complete it in just one day. Usually though, walkers stop overnight at the Pinzgau HutPinzgau Hut
The Pinzgau Hut is a mountain hut at 1,700 m above sea level in the Kitzbühel Alps in Austria, somewhat west of the Zellersee and Zell am See's local mountain, the Schmittenhöhe ....
or the Sonnbergalm. The Pinzgau Ridgeway is part of Route 02 A, a Austrian long-distance path.
The particular attraction of this trail is its constant view of the highest summits of Austria's High Tauern and the valley of the River Salzach before them. In the western section the ridgeway has impressive views of the Zillertal Alps
Zillertal Alps
The Zillertal Alps are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps on the border of Austria and Italy. The range is named after the Zillertal on its north....
. The crest itself is part of the Kitzbühel Alps, whose gently, only rarely rocky slate summits, belong to the greywacke zone
Greywacke zone
The greywacke zone is a band of Paleozoic metamorphosed sedimentary rocks that forms an east-west band through the Austrian Alps. The greywacke zone crops out between the Mesozoic rocks of the Northern Calcareous Alps and the Austroalpine and Penninic basement rocks of the Central Eastern Alps....
.
Variations and extensions
The ridgeway may also be joined from the north from the Glemm valley and its western end can be accesed from the hamlet of Lengau in the municipality of Saalbach-HinterglemmSaalbach-Hinterglemm
Saalbach-Hinterglemm is a municipality in the district of Zell am See , in the Austrian state of Salzburg. It is well-known for its skiing and other winter sports...
. If only half the route is walked, there is the option of ascending or descending on the cable car from Saalbach-Hinterglemm to the high Schattberg
Schattberg (Saalbach-Hinterglemm)
The Schattberg is a high mountain in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austrian state of Salzburg.- Location and surrounding area :The Schattberg is the local mountain for the Pinzgau parish of Saalbach-Hinterglemm, that lies about 3 kilometres to the north...
, about four kilometres north of the Hochkogel. In addition, there are other connecting routes from the Glemmtal, such as the one via the Streitbergalm . To the south, in the Salzach valley are other short cuts, for example, to Niedernsill
Niedernsill
Niedernsill is a town located in the Zell am See district in the state of Salzburg in Austria. Situated 769 m above sea level, it is best known for its winter sports of skiing and its summer activities of hiking.-External links:**...
.
The Pinzgau Ridgeway is part of the 02 A long-distance trail, a variation of the Central Alpine Way (Zentralalpenweg) from Hainburg an der Donau
Hainburg an der Donau
Hainburg an der Donau is a town in the Bruck an der Leitha district, Lower Austria, Austria.-Geography:The city Hainburg is located next to the Danube river and Bratislava in Slovakia and 50 km east of Vienna. It is part of the Industrial Quarter Industrieviertel in Lower Austria.45.87% of the...
to Feldkirch
Feldkirch
Feldkirch can refer to:In Austria:* Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, a medieval city and capital of an administrative district* Feldkirch , an administrative division of VorarlbergIn France:* Feldkirch, Haut-Rhin, a commune in France....
. A section of this trail runs from the Pinzgau Ridgeway, crossing the Low and High Tauern as well as the Salzburg Slate Alps. To the west a trail continues from the Bürglhaus via the Thurn Pass and the Zillertal Alps
Zillertal Alps
The Zillertal Alps are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps on the border of Austria and Italy. The range is named after the Zillertal on its north....
to the New Bamberg Hut
New Bamberg Hut
The New Bamberg Hut lies at 1,756 m AMSL in the Kelchsau in the Kitzbühel Alps in Austria and is a mountain hut owned by the German Alpine Club's Bamberg Section....
.
The Pinzgau Ridgeway is also part of the Arno Way (Arnoweg), a circular trail, that runs almost around the entire state of Salzburg. It is joined in the east by another trail that crosses the Dienten Mountains, to the west the trail follows the border with Tyrol as far as the Gerlos Pass
Gerlos Pass
Gerlos Pass is a high mountain pass in the Austrian Alps between the Bundesländer of Salzburg and Tyrol.It connects the Oberpinzgau in the state of Salzburg with the Ziller River valley in Tyrol. The old road leads from Wald im Pinzgau to Gerlos in the Ziller valley. It is closed to trucking and...
, where it swings away to the south.
Sources
- Freytag-Berndt Kitzbüheler Alpen und Pinzgau. Hiking map 1:100,000 series (sheet 38) and hut guide, Geografa Vienna-Innsbruck-Munich-Bozen.
- Salzburg Süd. Leisure map, Österreich 1:100,000 sheet 9 (of 13), Hofer AG, Vienna 2005
- Austrian map series 1;50,000 (sheets 121-125) and 1:200,000 (sheets 47/12 and 47/13); map section see AustrianMap Salzburg
- Wanderführer Kitzbühler Alpen (Sbg.~1980)
- R. Oberhauser (ed.): Der geologische Aufbau Österreichs, chapter 3.6.5, 3.6.6 und 3.13. Geologische Bundesanstalt Vienna / Springer-Verlag Vienna/ New York 1980
External links
- Pinzgau Ridgeway at Summitpost.org