Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R19
Naßfeld » Zollnersee Hütte ehm. Dr. Steinwender Hütte
|
6h15 |
22.5 km
|
990 m
|
791 m
On the trail from Naßfeld to the Dr. Steinwender hut, you will repeatedly come upon evidence of the past. The old war-time roads and cliff forts from World War 1 are reminders of the disputes over the border area. Apart from this, the section is characterised by magnificent alpine landscape. In poor weather conditions or when snow is on the ground, however, caution is advisable here.
From the Naßfeld road, the marked hiking track around 100m to the North of the border crossing continues westwards. Climb upward following the trail to the Roßalm meadow, at which the trail then branches off to the right towards the Treßdorfer Alm meadow, crossing several roads leading to lifts and ski runs. On the ridge running from the Treßdorfer Höhe mountain to the Madritsche peak, you can once again enjoy the view back to the Gartnerkofel peak and the Julian Alps. A short descent now leads into the highest part of the Rudniggraben rift (turnoff to the Rudnig Alm meadow), from where the climb to the Rudnigsattel pass begins (2h 20min from Naßfeld). From the Rudnigsatttel pass, the trail leads along the Austrian-Italian border to the Troghöhe mountain. From here, follow the trail without any great altitude variations along Italian territory below the southern precipices of the Trogkofel, the ascent of which is reserved for experienced mountaineers only, owing to its degree of difficulty. To the South-West of the Zottachkopf peak, you will again reach the national border. Here, follow the trail on the left-hand side (the trail to the right heads to the Rattendorfer Alm meadow) over boggy terrain to arrive at the long drawn-out ridge of the Rattendorfer Schneid, which is scattered with old trenches. The markings now follow the national border again and turn back at the Cima die Lanza peak to Italy. A rock fort from World War I bears witness to the terrible past of this area, thus lending even greater significance to the "Peace Trail" route. After a walk over beautiful, flat meadowland, turn to the right, where the trail branches off to the Hochwipfel mountain and you can already see the Große Kordin Alm meadow below to the left. Just after this, cross the national border again at the Kordinsattel pass (2h 30min from the Rudnigsattel pass) and follow the flat trail above the Kleine Kordin Alm meadow northwards to the Gugel. Take a meadow path to the Straniger Alm meadow (1h from the Kordinsattel pass), where you can freshen up and even stay overnight. Just after the refuge, a track branches off to the left, but it soon leads to the meadow road. Follow this for approx. 10min, then leave it to the left, at a later stage crossing it and then following it. After almost an hour, you finally leave the road behind and follow a pleasant gravel path over the Waidegger Sattel pass to the "Auf treue Wacht" memorial stone. Just before the memorial stone, the trail turns to the right on a gentle descent and leads along the northern slope of the Findenigkofel to the Zollner See lake (2h 15min from Straniger Alm). Take the gentle descent to arrive at the Dr. Steinwender Hut in 20min. (Andreas Fink, Christina Schwann, OeAV Section Villach, OeAV)
Natural and cultural heritage
The Carnic and Gailtal Alps are among the 100 most important regions on earth. Nowhere else in Europe have the development areas of the deep sea, the continental margins and the reef lagoons of the Palaeozoic era moved so closely together as here. A mighty geological disturbance is traversing the northern foothills of the Carnic Alps: the so-called "Periadriatic Lineament". It divides the Gailtal from the Carnic Alps. The Gailtal valley runs parallel to the Periadriatic Lineament. In principle, many alpine valleys indicate geological disturbance zones, as this is where the rock has been heavily shattered by forces from within the Earth (earthquake). It must be assumed that the distance in a north-south direction used to be up to approximately 40 to 50km wider. In addition to this, there is a horizontal side shift of several hundred kilometres, which makes its easier to understand the variations in its natural development in the past. The area surrounding the Naßfeld is world famous due to its carbon deposits from the Coal Age. These were created about 300 million years ago in the course of the so-called Variscan orogenesis. In the subsequent Permian and Triassic eras, various sea and land strata were deposited here within approx. 70 million years, of a size of around 2.5-3km. The youngest rocks - approx. 230 million years old – can be found at the summit of the Gartnerkofel. These are Schlern dolomite, which dates back to when this peak belonged to the dolomites. The area between the Bischofalm meadow and the Zollner See lake is one of the geological key points that contribute to our understanding of the structure of the Carnic Alps. Here, the old foundation mountains can be seen, and also the substratum and on it the young nappe mountains with two stockworks. The rocks are around 370 million years old, and in the nearby Nölblinggraben rift even as old as 460 million years. Fossilized remains of living sea animals from that time prove that this was once covered by ocean. The older layers at the Zollner See lake stand in a straight upward position. Lying flat on top of these are the younger rocks, deposited a few million years later when erosion was again taking place. The shoreline sank and rose, which resulted in an alternation in the nappe series with fern plants belonging to the land in the lower area, and sea animals only a few metres above this. The base of the Carnic ridge only settled in its altitude above the surrounding ocean in the Permian era towards the end of the Palaeozoic Era. Thenceforth began a major limestone deposit in the Trogkofel group (called Trogkofel limestone), which is known for its abundance of fossils. The particularity of this area can be explained by the fact that the various sea deposits and their fossil content did not alter over the course of millions of years, i.e. they were not covered in slate and thus can still be very clearly distinguished. In the Hohe Tauern mountains, on the other hand, this original diversity no longer exists, as the former deposits can no longer be easily identified due to a further compression and increase in the temperature of the rocks. (Christina Schwann, OeAV)
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
Other names of the Carnic high-alpine trail no. 403: Friedensweg (Peace trail), south alpine long-distance trail 03, KGW Carinthian border trail; intersecting trail: Weg der Stille / Sentiero del Silenzio (Silence trail) from Unterwölbiling via the Dr. Steinwender Hut, the Zollner Törl pass/Pso Pecol di Chiaula to Paularo;
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.
flautix - 2023-08-21
Eine lange aber sehr schöne Etappe, die dem Namen Höhenweg alle Ehre macht!
Wir haben dank der +Card Holiday, die man im Alpenhof Plattner beim Checkin ausgehändigt bekommt und die die kostenlose Benutzung der Sommerbergbahnen mit einschließt etwas abgekürzt und sind mit dem Sessellift zur Madritsche hochgefahren. So spart man ein paar Höhenmeter und ca. 2 km ein. Bei heißem Wetter ausreichend Wasser mitnehmen. Wir haben an diesem Tag gut 4 l pro Person getrunken!
Die Zollnerseehütte bekommt 5 Sterne von uns: Superteam, hervorragende Küche, Halbpension mit Viergänge-Menü inklusive Salatbuffet, Frühstück ebenfalls in Buffetform, beheizter Trockenraum, warme Dusche mit Münzeinwurf. Besser geht Hütte nicht!
Julien Trieste Monaco - 2022-08-15
There is a Bivacco right below rudniksaddel, on the Italian side: Bivacco Lomasti.
2 streams flowing on each side of the Bivacco on 10th of August. The Bivacco can accommodate 4/6 people but there is not so many visitors,except on weekends. Possibility to charge devices via 2 USB plugs.
And the most important : incredible sunset!
Straniger alm sells cheese and it's way cheaper than the one in egger alm.
Oliver - 2022-07-18
A fantastic trek from nassfeld. The path is well marked and easy to walk on. The views and the surrounding are to die for. There are multiple Alms on the way that offer food and rooms, if the weather or sore legs catch up on you ;) One of my favorite episodes so far.
POPEYE GG - 2018-06-13
24 juin 2017
Un chemin plutôt escarpé, à faire de préférence par beau temps.
Arrivée à la Zollnersee Hütte sous l'orage, heureusement il y a une "Trockenraum", où les chaussures et les vêtements sèchent la nuit!
Accueil vraiment chaleureux et repas excellent.
Automatic translation
[Google]
June 24, 2017 A rather steep path, preferably in good weather. Arrival at the Zollnersee Hütte under the storm, fortunately there is a "Trockenraum", where shoes and clothes dry at night! Really warm welcome and excellent meal.
About 7K from the Zollnersee Hütte there is the super nice Straniger Alm. Again, very friendly people and good fresh food. I camped above the hut, great place with a nice view and at 6 in the evening and morning it's cow watching time! In Naßfeld there is an (expensive) grocery store.
Tof - 2014-12-25
Trieste-Monaco le 11/07/14
Bel accueil au refuge. Etape assez longue. Zone de tourbière intéressante et guidée.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Trieste-Monaco on 11/07/14 Beautiful home at the shelter. Step quite long. Interesting and guided bog area.
Elisabeth - 2012-12-06
De l'avis général, il faut ajouter 2 heures au temps de marche indiqué. Le refuge Zollersee est très "cosy".
Automatic translation
[Google]
The general view, add 2 hours running time indicated. The refuge Zollersee is very "cozy".
Alpinisten - 2011-09-08
In Naßfeld gibt es gegenüber vom Hotel Berghof (wegen Renovierung im Sommer 2011 geschlossen) an der Bushaltestelle einen Geldautomaten! Liegt direkt auf der Route.
Automatic translation
[Google]
(Closed for renovation in summer 2011) in Nassfeld there across from the Berghof at the bus stop an ATM! Lies directly on the route.
Cette étape marque réellement l'entrée dans les alpes Carniques, si sauvages et si attachantes. L'arrêt a Zollnersee Hütte est obligatoire. Demandez à Andreas de vous y jouer un air d'accordéon
Automatic translation
[Google]
This marks actually entering the Carnic Alps, so wild and so engaging. Judgment Zollnersee Hütte is mandatory. Andreas ask you to play the accordion
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.