ROUTE 59

Zell am See (Schmittenhöhe: 1965m) – Maurerkogel (2074m) – Rohrertörl (1918m) – Schmittenhöhe

Start	Zell am See (Schmittenhöhe: 1965m)
Distance	10km
Height gain	479m
Height loss	479m
Grade	2–3
Time	4–4½hrs
Location	West of Zell am See

The Maurerkogel is a modest summit on the ridge of the Piesendorfer Hochsonnberg west of the Schmittenhöhe. From it a formidable view is gained of the various groups of the Northern Limestone Alps spreading between the Kaisergebirge and the Dachstein massif, and south across the Salzach valley to the Hohe Tauern. Walkers tackling the Pinzgauer Spaziergang (Route 56 above) pass below it, but this particular route follows the ridge-crest onto and over the summit as far as the saddle of the Rohrertörl, then returns to the Schmittenhöhe along the Spaziergang.

Out of the Schmittenhöhe cable-car station go up to the Elisabethskapelle, and turn left on a broad track which slopes down to the south with a direct view of the Kitzsteinhorn and a crowd of snowpeaks which includes the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest peak. About 7mins down the track turn right at a junction to follow the continuing track (a ski piste in winter) which swings to the northwest, exchanging views of the Hohe Tauern for those of the limestone range carrying the border with Bavaria. The track twists down to a saddle at 1780m (25–30mins) and a multi-junction of paths and tracks.

Take a path up the slope directly ahead. Near the head of this slope waymarks direct the path to the left, to pass beneath a ski tow. This becomes a delightful trail, rising gently among trees, clumps of bilberry and juniper, with a lovely panorama to the left, but soon regaining views to the Northern Limestone Alps. Almost 1hr from the Schmittenhöhe you come to the Kesselscharte (1844m), an attractive dip in the ridge with several small pools lying in hollows.

It is here that you leave the route of the Pinzgauer Spaziergang and take the path which forks slightly right (red waymarks), tracing the crest of the ridge northwestward. This ridge separates the Glemmtal in the north, and the Pinzgau valley of the Salzach in the south, and rewards with lovely views virtually every step of the way.

The summit of the 2074m Maurerkogel is gained in about 1hr 45mins, and if conditions are favourable, it makes a perfect place to stop for a picnic. Then, continuing with the walk, keep to the ridge-crest and slope down to the Rohrertörl (1918m, 2hrs 15mins) where there’s a signpost. Turn sharply to the left onto a track used by the Spaziergang and follow directions back to the Schmittenhöhe given above as Route 56.

Hohe Tauern mountains from near the Schmittenhöhe

OTHER WALKS FROM THE SCHMITTENHÖHE

• The Pinzgauer Spaziergang has been mentioned several times, and one stem of this classic route has been described from the Schattberg above Saalbach to the Schmittenhöhe. But there is another stem heading west from the Schmittenhöhe to the Bürgl Hut, a dairy farm with basic accommodation nestling at 1695m below the Geisstein. From the hut a farm road snakes down through the Mühltalgraben to Stuhlfelden near Mittersill in the Salzach valley (11–12hrs in all).
• The Schattberg stem of the Pinzgauer Spaziergang is every bit as enjoyable when walking from the Schmittenhöhe to the Schattberg as the route to the Schmittenhöhe described as Route 56.
• An interesting descent can be made to Piesendorf in the Salzach valley by taking a series of paths and trackways via the Pinzgauer Hut and Kottingeinöden Alm.
• Numerous shorter and less demanding walks can be had from the Schmittenhöhe. One of the best follows the trail of the Pfaffenkendelsteig on a 3hr descent to Zell via the Mittelstation gasthof.
• Another 3hr descent to Zell, this time northeast and east of the Schmittenhöhe, takes the Sonnkogel Hohenpromenade, and from the Sonnkogel restaurant continues along a track into the Schmittental by way of the Sonnalm.