Salzburger Almenweg - Stage 11: Hüttschlag - Tappenkarseehütte

Stage 11 leads from Hüttschlag across a quite challenging ascent over flower-strewn meadows to the Karteistörl and the largest mountain lake in the Eastern Alps in about 5 hours. Aber Achtung: Heute gibt es bis zum Etappenziel keine Einkehrmöglichkeiten auf dem Weg, daher unbedingt Jause einpacken! Zudem zählt die Etappe mit 1.264 Höhenmetern im Anstieg zu den längsten auf dem gesamten Almenweg. Lake Tappenkarsee is located at about 1,800 metres above sea level and we are sure that when you see it for the first time, shortly after the Karteistörl, you will stop and be overwhelmed. It is thus no wonder that this stage is for many people one of the most beautiful sections on the Salzburger Almenweg. The lake is nestled between the Grossarler Grasbergen and the rocky peaks of the Radstädter Tauern in Kleinarl and, according to legend, is home to a voracious monster.

You will spend the night at the Tappenkarseehütte, which is located slightly above the lake and offers a wonderful view: From here make sure you keep an eye on the lakeshore, especially when fog wafts over the cold water, as who knows when the monster will next appear and what it has in mind.

 

Along the trail

The mighty, 2,358 metre high Draugstein with its wide flanks is one of the few limestone mountains in the Grossarltal that bring out a completely unique vegetation here. Already on the ascent to the Karteistörl, flower lovers can look forward to a lush splendour of colours and flowers. Countless shades of green mix with the strong pink of the alpine roses, the dark purple of the so-called “Knabenkräuter” (a native orchid species), the yellow of arnica and the white of the fluffy woolly grass.

 

Alpine Trail History

Would you like a little bedtime story? Well, then we want to tell you about the Lindwurm (dragon) in Lake Tappenkarsee. This legend is a cultural asset in SalzburgerLand and, according to the legend, a voracious Lindwurm once caused a lot of terror around the lake, which is up to fifty metres deep. He devoured everything that moved on the shore and so some men decided to kill the monster. However, the plan failed and full of the desire for revenge, the Lindwurm has been sitting at the bottom of the lake since then and gnawing at the rock that borders Lake Tappenkarsee to the Kleinarl Valley. When he finally succeeds in breaking through the wall, the entire valley will sink under the mass of water right up to Wagrain. According to another legend, Lake Tappenkarsee is said to be connected underground with Lake Schuhflickersee north of the two Schuhflicker valleys further along between the Grossarl and Gastein valleys. There, it is said that a cartwheel was found, which had previously fallen into Lake Tappenkarsee.

 

Alpine Trail Refreshment  

"Dreifärbiger Kaiserschmarrn" (triple coloured) is served at the Tappenkarseehütte. This colourful variant of the classic pastry is tastily complemented with apple sauce, cranberry and blackberry jam. The blackberries (also known as blueberries or cranberries) may of course also be eaten along the trail. Usually at this altitude they are ripe in late August / mid-September.