WALKING IN AUSTRIA
by Kev Reynolds
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
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
Route 1 Douglass Hut – Lünersee Circuit – Douglass Hut
Route 2 Douglass Hut – Totalp Hut – Lünersee Alm – Douglass Hut
Route 3 Douglass Hut – Schesaplana