Kitzbuhel to Hochwildalmhutte via Aurach - Austria 20 Aug 2013.

Kitzbuhel to Hochwildalmhutte via Aurach and Return
Austria
Distance 26km Climb 796m
Tuesday 20th August 2013

We discussed a number of times about going to the Wildpark, so today at breakfast at the Hotel Edelweiss we made the decision that today was going to be the day.  We spoke to Klaus before leaving and Klaus suggested we get the bus then we could walk up to the Wildpark and he showed me a route on the map that looked a good circular walk on the tops.

We decided that rather than take the bus, as we had time we would walk.  So we took the road south east from the hotel.  This took us to the path that we followed next to the river with signs for Aurach, we had walked this path a number of times.  On this path we passed a covered bridge, there is a number of these in the area.  

The river was full and fast flowing, following some heavy rain over the previous evenings.  At Aurach we turned east, crossed a bridge over the river and headed towards the main road.  Crossing the main road we continued east and took the road up to Oberaurach, this was sign posted for the Wildpark.  At Oberaurach we passed the two interesting looking churches.

From Oberaurach we followed the signs to the Wildpark, continuing east, this took us up as we started a steady climb up the road.

When we reached a large car park we turned left, the signs showed us down a road that headed north west towards the Wildpark.  This was on the level and would have given a good vista down the valley, if it had not been so misty.  I was keen to walk on, further up the hill, but we stopped to have a look around the Wildpark.

At the Wildpark it was interesting as a lot of the animals were just wandering around, they were not in encloses or in any cages.  There were notices all over saying, not to touch or pet the animals, but some of the animals were that tame they were walking up to people to be petted. It was feeding time at 13.00 so everyone started gathering at the troughs just before 13.00 including the animals.

After we left the Wildpark we had decided that Anne would walk back to the hotel and I would take a walk up the hill.  It had threatened rain all day but now things were starting to clear.  So back at the large car park Anne turned right, west, and headed downhill back to Oberaurach.  I turned left, east, and continued up the hill.  My route took me up by the road.  There were parts of the route which moved off the road and took steeper paths, cutting off a few of the corners.

At one place where the route moves off the road it reaches the cross at Nieder-Wildalm, where the views were stunning.

I moved passed the cross at Nieder-Wildalm onto the low track that started climbing again, after about 700m the path crosses a road and starts climbing up to Hochwildalmhutte at a height of 1557m.

From Hochwildalmhutte there was a number of routes that looked interesting, unfortunately I was not going to have the time to reach them today, Hopefully another day, another holiday.  As time was moving on I thought it best I turned and headed back down the hill and returned the same way that I had taken going up.

I did not get back to the Hotel Edelweiss in time for tea and cakes, however on my arrival Veronika saw me and went into the kitchen to make me a cup of tea.  I had covered approx 26km and had climbed approx 796m.

More to follow


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

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Follow link to next walk Jochbergwald to Hahnenkamm via Kleiner Rettenstein
Follow link to previous walk Kitzbuhel to Kitzbuheler Horn return via Stanglalm