MountainsLakes Trail D4: Adamekhütte - Simonyhütte

"Through the desert" – that could be the motto for this stage. For a whole day, it goes through a kind of lunar landscape of limestone, remote and waterless, so take enough to drink with you! In stable fine weather, this tour is a wonderful nature experience, where despite the sparse ground you can also discover many blossoms. However, in fog, you will quickly end up in nowhere!

From the Adamekhütte you first follow the approach path No. 614 down to the Hoher Riedel (2,035 m). There, turn right onto path No. 650 which ascends under the climbing walls of the Schreiberwandeck (2,330 m) to large fallen rock blocks. Behind it, turn right and walk into the huge rock cirque structured by hollows and small rock bands below the small Schneeloch glacier.

You cross this remote karst wasteland (with a dream view of the Gosaukamm) for more than 1 km until you reach the Hoßwandscharte (2,187 m). 2:00 h Beyond that is a short descent through rocky terrain, then go right under the Hoßkogel (2,366 m) and – laboriously – over rugged karren plates into the Weittal (here special caution is advised, as steep old snowfields exist until summer).

This cirque also shows enormous dimensions and is divided in the middle by the small but pointed Weittal-Gschlösselkogel (2,168 m). Below the Hoher Ochsenkogel begins the winding ascent over two exposed steep sections secured with iron pegs and steel cables, up to the Hoher Trog (2,359 m). At this spacious debris saddle, you cross the path leading left to the Mittlerer Ochsenkogel (2,365 m) and right to the Niederen Kreuz (2,651 m).

The descent to the east leads steeply over scree, karren rocks and rock slabs – a short spot is secured with a rope – into the extensive Wildkar. North below the small sugarloaf-shaped Schöberl (2,426 m) you hike to the Simonyhütte (2,205 m). 3:00 h

The detour to the Upper Ice Lake below the Hallstätter Glacier is interesting (1:30 – 2:00 h). Crossing of the Taubenkogel (2,300 m).

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


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


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


• Cows on the pasture are often curious. Due to mother cow husbandry, they develop a strong instinct to protect their calves. Move calmly on cow pastures, keep at least 20 m distance from the animals, and never pet calves! In case of threatening gestures (scratching, stamping), slowly step backwards (do not turn your back). Dogs must be leashed, they may not bark at or chase cows. In case of an attack, the dog must be released immediately.

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

Spare clothes for changing and a small emergency first aid kit should also be in the backpack. How much provisions 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.

With kind provision of the text by the KOMPASS publishing house and Wolfgang Heitzmann.

Further information at trail.salzkammergut.at