The 2178m Gamshag may be climbed in 30mins from the Hochtorsee
| Start | Hechenmoos (936m) |
| Distance | 15km |
| Height gain | 1159m |
| Height loss | 1159m |
| Grade | 3 |
| Time | 6–6½hrs |
| Location | Southeast of Kitzbühel |
The Tristkogel is one of several accessible peaks above the Bochumer Hut. Standing on the borders of Tyrol and Salzburg province it overlooks the Glemmtal (home of Saalbach and Hinterglemm) to the east. This walk makes a full day’s outing, and although refreshments are available at the Bochumer Hut, this is not visited until the return, so it is advisable to carry food and plenty of liquid with you.
Follow directions given in Route 48 as far as the point, about 5mins beyond the mine ruins, where the track to the Bochumer Hut breaks to the left. Ignore this and continue upvalley along the dirt road. Soon after, emerge from woodland to a view of Tristkogel and Gamshag rising either side of an obvious col at the head of the valley. Tristkogel is the peak on the left of the col.
When you reach the farm of Niederkaseralm (1360m, 1½hrs), take a footpath which rises behind it then curves left to gain a view downvalley to the distant Wilder Kaiser mountains. Briefly rejoin the dirt road, and almost immediately cut to the right on the continuing path. This returns you to the road once more, and when it forks you go ahead through a gateway. The route continues to the dairy farm of Oberkaseralm (1730m, 2½hrs) from where the path to the col rises steadily among alpenroses and marmot burrows.
The 2178m Gamshag may be climbed in 30mins from the Hochtorsee
About 30mins from Oberkaseralm come onto the col of Tor at 1933m, and overlook undulating pastures with the buildings of the Toralm a little below.
Note A 15min diversion south of the col leads to the little reedy tarn of the Hochtorsee, which makes a good site for a picnic. Another option is to make the ascent of the 2178m Gamshag by a clear path rising above the lake in 30mins.
Turn left at the col on a path which climbs the south ridge of the Tristkogel. This path soon forks – the right-hand option avoids the summit climb, makes a traverse of the mountain’s south-east flank, and comes onto the ridge northeast of the Tristkogel near the Saaljoch (30–40mins from Tor). The continuing route to the summit is not difficult, but there are fixed cables in places which could be useful in descent. At about 2050m you come onto the mountain’s shoulder, and shortly after this reach the summit cross in little more than 20mins from the col. At 2095m the Tristkogel makes a fine vantage point, and the summit rocks are adorned with alpine flowers.
The lovely Hochtorsee, one of the gems of the Glemmtal
The short but steep descent by the northeast ridge is trickier than the ascent from Tor, and is marked Nur für Geübte (‘only for the experienced’), so if you feel unsure about tackling it, return to Tor and take the traverse path across the southeast flank, and rejoin the other route shortly before reaching the saddle of the 1876m Saaljoch.
At the Saaljoch turn left on a thin waymarked path heading west across grassland rich with alpenrose, bilberry, gentian and cotton grass, and with views ahead to the Wilder Kaiser. Descending easily you come once more to the Oberkaseralm dairy farm and rejoin the route used on the ascent. However, when the footpath brings you onto the dirt road a little above Niederkaseralm, bear right, then almost immediately take a footpath on the left signed to the Bochumer Hut. Cutting across a steep hillside, then through a patch of forest, you emerge to the Bochumer Hut (1432m, 5–5½hrs; accommodation and refreshments).
The walk to Hechenmoos for the bus back to Kitzbühel is straightforward and takes about 1hr. Simply descend the track below the hut, which leads to the main dirt road in the Kelchalmgraben valley. You then follow this all the way downhill to Hechenmoos.
On the northwest outskirts of Kitzbühel the attractive lake of Schwarzsee makes a popular destination for a walk. Visited in the early morning or at dusk, the lake reflects the magical light conditions, and with the Wilder Kaiser mountains as a backdrop, it has an ethereal quality. Allow 1hr for a circuit.