Long-distance hike Eagle Walk Stage 02: Gaudeamushütte - Kaindlhütte

His majesty the Wilder Kaiser is vying for attention today with the next showpieces. Our route leads via the highest hut in the Kaiser Mountains to the Kaindlhütte with a view of the wildly romantic Hintersteiner See - one of the most beautiful lakes in Tyrol. And with a view of this glittering and sparkling jewel, the next stage destination, the Kaindlhütte, seems to run itself.

Description

Starting point: Gaudeamushütte

From the Gaudeamushütte, you climb almost 400 meters in altitude via the Klammlweg to the Gruttenhütte, the highest hut in the Kaiser region. First head towards Ellmauer Tor and then turn west onto trail no. 824, 813. The path leads through meadows and mountain pines, after crossing a dry stream bed you reach the signpost "Gruttenhütte über Klamml" (a head for heights and surefootedness required). The path runs over stones and small boulders on the edge of a scree funnel. The Gaudeamushütte is now clearly below. Soon the narrow path leads around a rock and you come to an iron ladder about two meters long. Climb up this, then follow an iron chain over a few steps. With the scree below on the left and the high rocks on the right, the path now leads slightly uphill. After crossing a scree field, you will soon see the wooden steps to the Klamml entrance. To the right of the Gruttenkopf wall, the path climbs steeply upwards. The path is secured with iron clamps for footholds and handholds. At the last step, pull yourself up over a rock. Keep left at the exit of the Klamml. Next to the narrow path, the terrain drops steeply to the right, but a few hairpin bends later you reach the summit, from where an almost flat path leads a short distance to the Gruttenhütte. Immediately afterwards, the Jubiläumssteig trail joins from the right.

Refreshment stop: Gruttenhütte

From the Gruttenhütte (1,620 m), take the Gruttenweg 14 a in a south-westerly direction. At around 1,400 m altitude, the "Höhenweg" trail no. 823 branches off from the Gruttenweg in the area of Krummbachegg in a westerly direction (Hintersteiner See). Now take the high-level trail, also known as the "Wilder-Kaiser-Steig", through sparse mixed forest and through mountain pines and cirques south past and around the Treffauer, then continue towards the "Kaiser Hochalm" (unmanaged). This is located at 1,417 meters in open terrain, from here it goes down on a marked path. Now follow the signs for "Steiner Hochalm" and follow trail no. 823, which leads downhill through mixed forest. At the edge of the forest, the route forks, at this point turn right uphill and then immediately follow the marked trail that runs along the slope on the left. It leads to the Steiner Hochalm, where you can refresh yourself with drinks and enjoy the music, as there is often harp playing and singing here.

Refreshment stop: Steiner Hochalm

From the alpine hut building, take the Jägersteig trail to the Walleralm. You can take a contemplative break at the Walleralm with the Alpengasthaus Walleralm. The signposted trail to the Kaindlhütte begins behind it. Follow the trail, mostly through wooded areas, up to the Hochegg (1,470 meters). Shortly before the Hochegg hump, the gradient increases significantly. On the grassy crest, at the summit cross of the Hochegg, it is worth taking a break with a view of the Inntal valley and the Zahmer Kaiser. Now the trail continues gently through open spaces down to the alpine village of the Steinbergalm with the Kaindlhütte.

End point: Kaindlhütte