Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R18
Egger Alm » Naßfeld
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3h30 |
13.9 km
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546 m
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422 m
Already just after the Egger Alm pasture, there are some glorious vantage points over the Gailtal valley and the Kreuzeck group. The trail runs for a while on Italian territory and follows an old war-time road. After dense woodland, you arrive in the Garnitzenalm and Wartschiger Alm meadows, where the first skiing areas of the Sonnenalpe Naßfeld resort are also located.
From the Egger Alm meadow, follow the road to Hermagor for another 3min, before turning left onto a slightly uphill forest road. Glorious views over the Gailtal valley and the Kreuzeck mountain range can soon be enjoyed. A little later, the trail turns to the left and approaches the Italian border. After an approx. 1-hour walk, you will reach the customs hut and the Stallen pass. Now leave the trail and head to the left along an old dilapidated wartime road on Italian territory. Cross the slopes of the uppermost Vallone di Rio Bianco (the Weißenbachtal valley or the Kathreiner Graben rift) to reach the Stutenbodensattel pass after walking through woodland and head leftwards uphill along the old wartime road below the Schulterköpfele peaks before soon coming out again onto a forest road. Follow this road over the North slopes of the Kronalpe meadow and later take a slightly uphill track over alpine pastureland to the Garnitzenalm meadow (3h from the Egger Alm), where the first lift facilities of the Sonnenalpe Naßfeld ski resort are located. Keep to the left at the well in front of the old alpine hut and turn right at the next fork in the road. Continue through sparse larch woodland, across alpine pastures and through spruce trees to reach the Garnitzentörl pass, nestled between the Garnitzenberg and the Gartnerkofel peaks. In good weather, you can enjoy the wonderful view over to the Julian Alps in the South and the Hohe Tauern mountains in the North. Head down over open alpine pastureland (or ski runs) to the Watschiger Alm meadow and the Alpenhof Plattner hotel (accommodation facilities, ÖAV affiliated member), where it is only another short stretch down to the Naßfeldpass (3h from the Garnitzenalm), where Hotel Berghof (accommodation facilities, ÖAV affiliated member) and a few other hotels and guesthouses are available. (Andreas Fink, Christina Schwann, OeAV Section Villach, OeAV)
Natural and cultural heritage
Franz Xaver Baron of Wulfen (1728-1805) not only described the mineral wulfenite, a lead molybdate, but also discovered a unique botanical rarity in about 1779 in the Naßfeld area: the wulfenia or wulfenia carinthiaca, named after him. In all the world, it can only be found around the Gartnerkofel peak and in the Montenegrin-Albanian border region. Its occurrence in the Carnic Alps stretches over Italian and Austrian state territory. On the Austrian side, it blooms in the Kühweger Alm, Watschiger Alm, Möderndorfer Alm and Garnitzenalm meadows, and on the Italian side of the border in the Zirkel-Alm and Auernig-Alm meadows. Its limited range - botanists refer to it as being "endemic" - and its extraordinary beauty make the wulfenia a peculiarity and the provincial flower of Carinthia. It is interesting to observe that the wulfenia is obviously dependent on the pastureland of the meadows. For in recent years, there has been a decrease in the flower population that is obviously directly linked to the abandonment of pastureland. The influence of the grazing cattle – trodden land and browsing – and the activity of the alpine farmers appears to encourage the wulfenia to grow. In overgrown areas without land trodden by browsing cows, it disappears. Even the formerly widely used reference to the wulfenia as the "Kuhtritt" (cow’s footstep) indicates this link. In order to protect the wulfenia in a sustainable manner and to preserve its locations, a cross-border EU project with the title: "Sustainable development for areas of unspoiled nature in the Carnic Alps – work package 3: Wulfenia – cross-border pasture farming concept for the preservation of ‘cow’s footstep’” was initiated. Leaving aside this botanical peculiarity, the Carnic ridge is also and above all a true geological treasure house. The 5 nature paths each with 10 to 15 stopping points and the 20 large panoramic panels of the "Geo-Trail" tell the natural history of the Gialtal valley, tracing it back around 500 million years. All along the trail, you will come across fossilized mussels, brachiopods, sea lilies, corals, ferns and even entire tree trunks. One of the these nature paths is located in the Naßfeld area and along the rest of the trail to the Hochweißsteinhaus lodge, there are more signs for the Geo-Trail; in the Straniger Alm meadow, at the Dr. Steinwender Hut, at the Plöcken pass and at the Wolayersee lake for instance. (Christina Schwann, OeAV)
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
The route follows a course that is identical to that of the south alpine long-distance trail 03 or Carnic high-alttidue trail (KHW) 403 and the Carinthian border trail (KGW). On the Watschiger Alm meadow, the "Rupertiweg" north-south-long-distance trail no. 10 from the Kühweger Alm meadow meets long-distance trail 03, after which they run together to the Nassfeld pass, where the Rupertiweg ends.
Useful topographic maps
ÖK50 Nr. 199, 198 ~ Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen (1:50.000)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
auf-guten-wegen - 2024-04-21
Im Sommer 2024 gibt es beim Alpenhof Plattner auf der Watschinger Alm gemäss Website wegen Bauarbeiten keine Übernachtungsmöglichkeit.
Ingo - 2023-09-30
The lake at Wätschiger Einkehralm that Eva mentioned in 2017 (see below) doesn´t exist anymore. They dug out a big hole instead, probably they are building a new and bigger artifical lake instead. We camped wild somewhere behind.
Right behind Wätschiger Einkehralm there is a sign that indicates the trail that heads up to the peak of Gartnerkofel. Right where the sign is, there were some very aggressive wasps that are probably living in the ground. We were biten in our legs without warning, my leg got swollen for five days. Be aware of them if you come in late summer/fall.
flautix - 2023-08-21
Alpenhof Plattner ist eine gute Adresse für Wanderer: Da wird man noch mit Handschlag vom Chef persönlich begrüßt und eingewiesen. Für Alpenvereinsmitglieder vergünstigte Zimmer (auch mit eigenem Bad) im UG. Großes Frühstücksbuffet (Vorsicht: jegliche Mitnahme vom Buffet zum Wandern ist strengstens untersagt!). Abendessen a la carte. Auch viele Italiener kommen hierher im Sommer und bestellen Berge von Tiroler Gröstl oder Wiener Schnitzel...
Lolo - 2018-08-12
Hotel Berghof toujours fermé au 10 Aout 2018. Auberge Plattner très bien 2km avant Berghof.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Hotel Berghof always closed on August 10, 2018. Hostel Plattner very well 2km before Berghof.
POPEYE GG - 2018-06-13
23 juin 2017
Chemin un peu escarpé avant le Garnitzenalm, heureusement aménagé avec des chaines (voir aussi mon blog "vivelaretraitesurlaviaalpina.blogspot.com").
Un conseil, ne pas descendre jusqu'à Nassfeld où l'hôtel Berghof est fermé, mais s'arrêter au Watschiger Alm où il y a le bel Alpenhof Plattner.
Automatic translation
[Google]
June 23, 2017 A little steep path before the Garnitzenalm, fortunately arranged with chains (see also my blog "vivelaretraitesurlaviaalpina.blogspot.com"). A tip, do not go down to Nassfeld where the Berghof Hotel is closed, but stop at the Watschiger Alm where there is the beautiful Alpenhof Plattner.
Because I'm not sure if it's allowed to camp where ever you want, I usually ask at the Alms. 99% of the time they say that I can pick a spot, but often they even show me a good flat place where I'm not in the way of the cows. At Wätschiger Einkheralm, the let me put up my tent next to the lake.
tof - 2014-12-25
Trieste-Monaco le 10/07/14
Epicerie ouverte à Nassfeld. Bivouac sur le chemin de l'étape suivante près du refuge Rossalp (ouvert).
Automatic translation
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Trieste-Monaco on 10/7/14 open Nassfeld Groceries. Bivouac on the way to the next stage near the refuge Rossalp (open).
Demmeljoch? - 2013-09-20
Kurz vor der Zollhütte gibt es eine weitere Hütte auf einer Almwiese, die auf meiner Frytag & Berndt-Karte nicht eingezeichnet war. Etwa 50 m von der Forststr. entfernt auf dieser Almwiese ein Schild Staatsgrenze. Hier noch nicht von der Forststr. abgehen! An einem Baum ein Wegweiser (etwas schwer zu erkennen), der einen dann den richtigen Weg weist. 5 Min später kommt, etwas im Wald versteckt, die Zollhütte, an der es links auf der alten Kriegsstrasse vorbei geht.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Shortly before the Customs hut, there is a further hut on a mountain pasture, which was not marked on my Frytag & Berndt map. A sign State border about 50 metres of the forest St. on the alpine meadow. Here yet not of the forestry St go off! On a tree a signpost (hard to see anything), one then the right way is. 5 Min later, the inch cabin, the left is on the old road of war over hidden in the forest.
The Plattner Gasthof (recommended, lots of dorms) is 1,5km east of Nassfeld. Do not pass it by, like I did. I arrived down at the village (a horrible place) where I was told I had to go back. The very friendly chief gave me a special Via-alpina Tourenstagebuch. Coordinates: 46.5653,13.2855
Between Plattner and Nassfeld there is a running Sulfur Source. They say you can drink that water, and it seems to be very purifying. (Probably not recommended if you sleep in dorms)
Alpinisten - 2011-09-07
Der Berghoff hatte im Sommer 2011 wegen Renovierung geschlossen. Sehr gute Unterkunft im Alpenhof Plattner!
Automatic translation
[Google]
The Berghoff had closed in summer 2011 due to renovations. Very good accommodation in the Alpenhof Plattner!
|
3h30 |
13.9 km
|
546 m
|
422 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.