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The Merano High Mountain Trail - Tour
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1st day - Start to the Merano High Mountain Trail
From Merano the best way to get toTirolo (620 m) is by bus from the station in Merano (summer timetable 7.00 – 20.20). From here take the guest bus up to the cable car to Hochmut (1361 m). Once you have put your rucksack on properly and looked at the fantastic view, off you go up path 24 to Jausenstation Steinegg. This is the start of the Hans Frieden path which climbs up to the Leiteralm (1522 m) and on to Hochganghaus (1839 m).
Time for a rest before making your way up the AVS way of the youth past the Tablander Alm, down to the Nasserreith Hütte (1523m) at Zielbach. The path goes through the Rammwald (woods) to the mountain guest house Giggelberg (1565 m). This is the start of the Vinschgauer Sonnenberg where you have a picturesque view of the Etsch River and the white peaks of the Ortler Mountains. It is better to stop overnight here and then carry on the next day.
Walking Times
Hochmut - Leiteralm: approx. 50 mins
Leiteralm - Hochganghaus: approx. 1 hour 20 mins
Hochganghaus - Nassereith: approx. 2.5 hours
Nassereith - Giggelberg: approx. 1 hours 15 mins
Total walking time: approx. 5 hours 55 mins
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2nd Day – Achievement Day
Up early as we have a long way to go today. Although the start is fairly easy, it gets more difficult as we carry on as we have to cross various ruins and valleys helped by steps, ladders and ropes. As a comfort, there are plenty of possibilities to stop and have a snack or a rest: Hochforch (1555m), Grub (1377m), Galmein (1389m), Patleid (1386m), Kopfron (1436m), Unterperfl (1417m) and Katharinaberg (1245m). When we get to Unterperfl we have already been walking for 5 hours 50 minutes and could easily stop here, but we want to do more!
We want to get to Pfossental and need to walk for another 4 hours. At Seeboden (1510m) we leave the Vinschgauer Sonnenberg with its typical vegetation and enter the world of the mountains accompanied by the whistling of the marmots. Carry on the right side of the Pfossen Stream to Vorderkaser (1693m) that is connected to the Schnals Valley by a road. Here is the first possibility for accommodation, Gasthof Jägerrast, the second is at the Rableit Alm (2040m) and the third possibility is at Eishof (2071m). Those who make it this far are rewarded with the fantastic view of the valley with the Hohen Weißen (3278m).
Walking Times
Giggelberg - Unterperfl: approx. 5 hours 50 mins
Unterperfl - Jägerrast (Vorderkaser): approx. 2 hours 45 mins
Jägerrast - Rableit (Alm): approx. 1 hour
Rableit - Eishof: approx. 20 mins
Total time: approx. 9 hours 55 mins
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3rd Day - Walking towards the peak of the hike
Imagining we reached the Eishof yesterday, then we have 859 m to climb today, approximately three hours. Walking up the old military path that was originally used by donkeys, we climb up to Eisjöchl (2895m) and the Stettiner hut that lies below it (Rif. Petrarca, CAI, 2875m). Have a rest, enjoy the view, and think whether you want to stop here and carry on the next day. You can also ask the landlord of the hut if it is possible to climb to the peak of the Hohe Wilde.
After a rest at the hut, we carry on down the serpentines to Lazinser Alm (1860m) where the Hafling ponies are waiting for us. Here we say goodbye to the mountains and greet the life of the mountain farmers. There are two paths to Plan with its hotels and guesthouses (1628m), one on the right and one on the left of the Pfelderer Stream. The path on the right leads you directly to the centre of the village. An easy path after three hard days walking.
Walking Times
Eishof - Stettiner Hütte: approx. 3.5 hours
Stettiner Hütte - Pfelders: approx. 2 hours 45 mins
Stettiner Hütte - Hohe Wilde (3.480m): approx. 2 hours (only ascent)
Total walking time: approx. 6 hours 15 mins
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4th Day – Through the Val Passiria to Merano
Our path takes a wide sweep from east to south and takes us through fields and woods, from farm to farm. We leave the friendly village of Plan on path 24, cross the stream three times and come to the climbing garden. From here we carry on along Fuxensteig to Bergkristall. Go down the toboggan run to Gasthof Ausserhütt (1479m). Here you find the typical aspects of the Alta via of Merano, lonely woods, fields and mountain farms. The path goes up and down to the hamlet of Christl (1029m) just above S. Leonardo, the main village of the valley.
A rest at the old guesthouse will do you good before we start on our way south. It is then not long before you see the double peak of the Laugen above Lana. On the other side the rock face of the Sarntaler Alps are staring at you. The marked path sometimes runs along the side of the roads to the mountain farms, for example by the farms Lockengeier and Thal to Matatz above S. Martino(1052m). Here there are two guesthouses where you can stop overnight.
Walking Times
Plan - Ulfas: approx. 2 hours
Ulfas - Christl: approx. 1 hour 20 mins
Christl - Matatz: approx. 1 hours
Total walking time: approx. 4 hours 20 mins
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5th Day – Farewell of the Merano High Mountain Trail
From Matatz, taking advantage of the cool morning air, it is an easy walk to Grub. The Kalmbach and its waterfall mean that we have to climb up to 820 m and then by Magdfeld up to 1000 m. From here the path meanders from farm to farm and from hamlet to hamlet, sometimes through woods until we reach the Spronser Valley and the Longfallhof (1075m). In Vernuer and Gfeis there are plenty places to stop and rest or have a snack. From here you can see the town of Merano and the surrounding villages of Scena, Lana, Marlengo and Tirolo.
Walking Times
Matatz - Kalmbach: approx. 1 hours 15 mins
Kalmbach - Magdfeld: approx. 1 hour
Magdfeld - Vernuer: approx. 2 hours
Vernuer - Longfall: approx. 2 hours
Total time: approx. 6 hours 15 mins
Having reached Longfall Hof you have to make a decision. Those of you who prefer the easier route can take path number 6 and then the bus back to Meran.
For the more adventurous, you can carry on up to the Hochmut (1361m) and then down by cable car to Tirolo. From Longfall follow the path through the wood to Thalbauer (1209m) and then over the meadows to the cable car. After about 1 hour and 20 minutes you will reach the end of the loop path that goes round the nature park. As compensation fort he extra climb, you have a fantastic view of the Dolomites.
