BergeSeen Trail P2: Pühringerhütte - Welser Hütte

From the Pühringerhütte you continue to follow the Ausseerweg (No. 201) eastward. Alongside the craggy wall of Rauher Elm to the right, you hike towards Rotgschirr, passing the Geiernest spring. The junction of the (secured with steel cables and ladders) Sepp-Huber-Steig to Almsee is ignored, as is shortly afterward the summit ascent to Rotgschirr.

From a small grass hollow beneath the mighty mountain, it goes a little to the right up to the Rotkögelsattel (2,000 m). Behind it, the well-maintained Ausseerweg leads downhill a bit and then northeast through the "Aufg’hackert", the wildly jagged and scattered rock cirque with huge boulders between Rotgschirr and the massif of Feuertalberg, which rises on the right.

On the "Ochsenweiden", some patches of dwarf pine and grassy islands soften the harshness of the otherwise almost vegetation-free karst wasteland. However, on the further ascent to the saddle above the northward deeply cut Hetzaugraben, you finally roam the bone-dry lunar landscape of the karst plateau. Keeping right again, it continues gently uphill until you reach somewhat flatter, partly even grassy rocky terrain between Pfaffenschneide (left) and the barely prominent Hohen Kögeln (2,059 m). From the junction there, keep left on the Ausseerweg, which after about 1 km reaches a crossroads (2,100 m) between Schermberg (left) and Temlberg (right).

Here go straight on to the Fleischbanksattel (2,123 m), about 800 m away and surrounded by several dolines. On the left rises the Sauzahn, a spur of Schermberg, on the right the more distant, elegantly shaped Spitzmauer (2,446 m) – and before you shows the debris-covered southwest slope of the Großer Priel. 3:30 h

Now turn left onto path No. 215 towards "Welser Hütte". In the wild, deeply incised debris cirque between Schermberg and Großer Priel, the Hermann-Wöhs-Steig joins in from the left. Shortly afterward, it breaks off with the layered rock faces of the "Fleischbänke". These are overcome via the "Hansbauerband" secured with steel cables and two short ladders. Below often lies steep old snow. Between blocks and over a reddish rock ramp (steel cable) it goes down to the grassy spot with the pond of the "Teicheln". Over another ladder (steel cable) you reach the Welser Hütte (1,740 m). This Alpine club hut stands in a highly impressive place amid huge rock mountains. 1:00 h

Summit detour to Schermberg (2,396 m) and to Großer Priel (2,515 m)

• In alpine terrain, beware of the danger of falling rocks.


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


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


• Cows on the alp are often curious. Due to mother cow husbandry, they develop a pronounced instinct to protect their calves. So move calmly on cow pastures, keep at least 20 m distance from the animals and absolutely do not pet calves! In case of threatening behavior (scraping, stamping), slowly walk backwards away (do not turn your back). Dogs must be 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 profile 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 provision you pack depends on the number of places to stop for food. Anyway, you should definitely bring enough to drink. Telescopic poles are especially helpful when going downhill.

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

More info at trail.salzkammergut.at