Although less well know than some other Alpine regions, Austria's Hohe Tauern National Park boasts spectacular mountain scenery, snow-clad peaks and a splendid network of attractive and welcoming mountain huts. It is also home to Austria's highest peak, the 3798m Gross Glockner. This guide presents four short hut-to-hut treks in the Hohe Tauern region in the heart of the Austrian Tirol: the 7-day Reichen Group Rucksack Route, the 7-day Venediger Group Rucksack Route, the 8-day Venediger Glacier Tour and the 9-day Glockner Rucksack Route. Two other routes, linking stages of the main treks to complete a traverse of the Hohe Tauern National Park and an ascent of the Gross Glockner, are summarised in brief. Also included are multiple excursions to climb neighbouring peaks - including the Gross Glockner and 3660m Gross Venediger - and a hut directory listing the huts in the region and summarising link routes between them. The routes are feasible from mid-June to late September. Whereas the three rucksack routes require only good fitness and mountain walking experience, the glacier tour involves glacier crossings and the optional ascents frequently call for mountaineering skills (grades F and PD). In addition to clear route description and mapping, each trek stage includes notes on the highlights and challenges of the day. There is also a wealth of information to help you plan and prepare for your trip.
