BergeSeen Trail D2: Gablonzer Hütte - Hofpürglhütte

The alpine variant through the Dachstein Mountains starts immediately with a "classic" among alpine high routes. Gentle alpine meadows and rugged rocky wilderness are often just a stone’s throw apart here at the foot of the Gosaukamm. The highest peak of this dolomite-like mountain range in the west of the Dachstein Mountains, the 2,454 m high Bischofsmütze, truly lives up to its name. Yet it has been sending rockfall avalanches into the depths for years, plagued by rockfalls.

From the Gablonzer Hütte, located on the 14th stage of the Salzkammergut Trail (and accessible by cable car from Vorderer Gosausee), you hike on trail no. 611 – a variant section of the northern alpine long-distance trail – past the Breininghütte to the fork at the Lower Törlecksattel and then on the Austriaweg (no. 601) descending to the right through lightly wooded terrain and steeper, rock-strewn grassy slopes at the foot of the Großem Donnerkogel. Through a forest section below the Angerstein, you reach the wide meadows of the Stuhlalm (1,467 m) – the Theodor Körner Hut of the Alpine Club is hidden in the nearby woods. 2:00 h Over the grassy ridge above the alpine pasture (Mooseben) it continues into the larch-covered Grubach below the Stuhlloch, the dark cirque under the striking Große Bischofsmütze (2,454 m). The following "passage" over the Jöchl was completely destroyed by a rockfall in 2012. The newly created path already runs in a zigzag uphill through larch to a very steep rock gully on the right before the debris slope. This was made passable by numerous wooden steps and solid steel cables. A rocky notch (1,600 m) opens the passage to the southern side of the ridge. There the path leads through steep and rocky slopes into the wide larch fields below the Stuhllochspitz (1,980 m) and then almost level beneath the rugged western ridges of the Bischofsmütze (steel cables) to the Mahdalmriegel (1,630 m). There you turn left and walk through the grassy and scree slopes above the Sulzkaralm (1,467 m), which invites a short detour to the right.

Through the idyllic meadows and larch fields in the south of the Leckkogel (2,032 m) ascending, the Austriaweg finally leads over to the soon visible Hofpürglhütte (1,706 m). The stately Alpine Club house sits on a scenic hill beneath the cheeky Mosermandl (2,088 m), next to which the two peaks of the Bischofsmütze tower impressively. 2:30 h

• In alpine terrain, be aware of the danger of falling rocks.


• Until early summer, you may encounter steep snowfields or firn gullies – especially when icy, there is acute danger of falling and thus risk to life!


• Due to storm damage, forestry work, or construction measures, some sections of the path may be temporarily difficult or impossible to pass.


• Cows on the alpine pasture are often curious. Due to mother cow husbandry, they develop a strong instinct to protect their calves. So move calmly on cow pastures, keep at least 20 m distance from the animals, and never pet calves! In case of threatening behavior (scratching, stamping), slowly walk backwards away (do not turn your back). Keep dogs on a leash; they must not bark at or chase cows. In case of an attack, you must definitely let them off the leash.

For all stages you need hiking or mountaineering boots with profiled rubber soles as well as wind- and rainproof clothing.

Spare clothes to change and a small first aid kit should also be in your backpack. How much food you pack depends on the number of places to stop for food. In any case, you should take enough to drink. Telescopic poles are especially helpful when going downhill.

Courtesy of the text provided by the KOMPASS publishing house and Wolfgang Heitzmann.

Further information at trail.salzkammergut.at