RIDGE WALK

VIA ALPINA DAY 15  – MONDAY 6 JULY 2026
WOLLAYERSEE HUTTE – BELOW GAMASCOFEL/CIMA MEZZANA PEAK

DISTANCE HIKED: 24.2  km
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,855  m

TOTAL DISTANCE HIKED: 373.6 km
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN: 20,790m

Amazing how well we  slept despite sharing a room with 10 other people. There would have been about 70 people staying at this hut  We had decided to stay for breakfast, which was being served at 6.30, so it was nice to stay in bed till then.

Breakfast was a very generous spread of cereal, yoghurt, bread, jam, ham and cheese and bottomless coffee.  We shared a table with two women,  one from Alaska, now living in Oregon and she is on a short work trip to Zurich. Her Austrian friend arranged  three days of hiking  to break up her work trip.  They do this on a regular basis, covering different countries to hike.  How marvelous to be such good friends despite their geographic separation.

We had heard that there were  two other Australians staying  at the hut. As we were packing up to leave this morning we met them. Two ladies from Brisbane who were on a 12 day hiking trip in Austria. They were of a similar age to us. We got a giggle when they said  that they heard that there were two younger Australians staying at the hut. We’ll take that.

Hiking out on nice descending dirt road, we felt great and so refreshed. Marmots scurried around the grasses. They were not interested in us.   Soon the grunt of climbing Giramondo Pass started. Once we reached the summit we crossed over to Italy. A marble border marker, dating to 1920 was a another milestone  for Lou-Seal.

An Austrian couple resting at the top  told us that the upcoming section is some of the best hiking in Austria. Something to look forward to.   On the way down we must have passed close to 50 people going up towards the lake. One group stopped for a chat and one of their members had travelled a circuit of Australia.   Has seen more of the country then we have.

We stopped for lunch at one of the numerous creeks we crossed on the descent. We were passed by two small groups of hikers whom we met  later at the next hut. We were heading towards Hockweifusteinhaus hut which was a 3km away and a 500 m ascent.

Took a while to get there. On the way to the hut it was a silent ascent except for an occasional bird tweet.  We felt strong and hiked up without too much trouble.  Once we reached the hut I was keen to keep going to make good use on our good energy levels and the  good weather, knowing that the next 5 km is  a climb up to mountain Steinkerspitz/ Monte Antola at 2,524 m,  a 600m elevation gain.

Hammer was keen to stop for a drink when we got to the hut. So we stopped, but not for long.  The next hut is 17 km away so we knew we’d have to camp along the way. 

The ascent was not too bad to start with. We were passing plenty of hikers heading in the opposite direction, towards the hut.  About halfway up  it got steeper and more technical with sections of steel cable to hold onto where the trail was on a steep slope and eroding underfoot. 

It was getting colder, as we were ascending a  fleeting rain storm passed. It was enough rain and cold for us to get our rain jackets out.  It soon passed and then it was jackets off. It was too warm. We were surrounded by craggy peaks in every direction.

We were pleased to make the summit and in reasonably good time. It was windy out on the ridge where we spent the next couple of hours  hoping to find a reasonable flat spot out of the wind so we could camp.  It was nearly 8pm, following the trickies descent down a narrow gully using chains and steel spikes,  that we could see a small plateau offering possible camp sites.  

After the adrenaline spiked descent we found a perfect spot to camp. Well almost perfect. Lots of horse poop with a small pack of horses visible off in the distance. We’re at an elevation of 2,300m which is about the same height as Mt Koscziusko,  Australias tallest mountain. As we settled, the silence was broken only by frequent  passing aircraft.