Eagle Walk Stage O4: Bonn-Matreier-Hütte - Badener Hütte

The rewards along this walk are great - stunning natural scenery, outstanding panoramas and clean air - but be prepared to work for every view you get. From the Bonn-Matreier-Hütte climb across talus and rock-laden terrain, slowing your pace as you clamber up to the Säulkopf peak. If you don’t want to summit it, head north to the narrow Kälberscharte crest and steep Galtenscharte ridge. The trail is a bit rough and can be hard to follow in places, but you will get your first occasional glimpses of the majestic Großglockner. Clamber up and around large granite boulders at Galtenboden. If you are up for the extra effort you can summit Hohe Achsel peak on a demanding trail that is assisted by a fixed anchoring system of cables. As you near the Badener Hütte you’ll be greeted by a murmuring brook. The striking rock face above the hut resembles the notorious north face of the Eiger and pays scenic dividends to tenacious trekkers.

Interesting Facts

Eagle View ·If the weather is clear you can enjoy one of the finest vantage points for admiring the spiralling Großvenediger's sparkling glacier from the top of the Säulkopf mountain. And if you can ever move your eyes away from this mesmerising mountain, one of Austria's highest, a multitude of others demand your attention as well, from close-ups of the Großglockner Range all the way to the Central Alps and the jagged peaks of the Dolomites.

Eagle Kick ·The Galtenscharte ridge is an alpine traverse and a challenging scramble section across rock-laden terrain, slowing your pace as you clamber up and around large granite boulders. The tread is poor and consists of loose rock in places. In return you will get a superb panorama of nearly every peak in the Hohe Tauern National Park.

Interesting Facts Eagle View ·If the weather is clear you can enjoy one of the finest vantage points for admiring the spiralling…

Trail description

Starting point: Bonn-Matreier-Hütte

From the Bonn-Matreier-Hütte, walk up for about 10 minutes and take the right fork at the signpost. Traverse a rocky trough on your way to the slanting, jagged crags of the Kälberscharte ridge (2,791 m). The trail up both sides of the ridge, the crossing into the Kleines Niltal Valley and the steep climb atop the Galtenscharte ridge are assisted by stone steps and a fixed anchoring system of cables, making it relatively easy to negotiate. From the ridge the trail drops down 600 metres, a steep and demanding section, to reach the Mailfroßnitzbach stream. The upper section of the steep tread is assisted by a fixed anchoring system of cables. Snow may remain until summer in the steep middle section. If the path is snow-free, the trail is easy to follow. When you reach the stream, the steep gradient lessens. The trail then continues some 40 metres beneath the bridge across the Mailfroßnitzbach stream and heads north high above the Froßnitztal Valley along the grassy slopes of the Hohe Achsel peak. The terrain varies greatly, passing rivulets and streams; some sections are assisted by a fixed anchoring system of cables. You'll get to explore a quiet little tarn set in a moraine-scoured cirque at the head of Achsel. This is where the Venediger High Trail meets the Valley Trail. The route proceeds towards “Badener Hütte”, traversing lateral moraines and eventually crossing Froßnitzbach stream on a footbridge. Amble along ridges and through hollows, and delight at the views, both at your feet and off to the horizon. Watch for white-tailed ptarmigans, a member of the grouse family that makes this beautiful but harsh Alpine environment its home. Eventually you will get to the lateral moraine of Froßnitzkees glacier. Bear right and continue walking to reach the destination of this walk, the Badener Hütte, situated at an elevation of 2,608 metres.

Finishing point: Badener Hütte