Mountain Hike
Hermann-von-Barth-Hütte

Leaving from the "Geierwally" carpark in Elbigenalp, take the wide trail along the banks of the Bernhardsbach stream until you reach the final few houses on the mountain slopes. From there, things get steeper. The trail leads up over the Ölberg, where the Ölbergkapelle was erected in 1766, and on to the Kasermandlhütte hut (1,410 metres). It is here that the paths become narrower and more mountainous. Head into the forest, past the Balschtenhütten huts and across the Balschtebach stream onto the left-hand bank. By the time you reach this point you will have completed around half of the total ascent. The adventure continues across rolling terrain dotted with rocks and grassy outcrops, winding its way via a series of switchback corners to a ridge knoen as the Wolfebnerkar. High above you will be able to see the eye-catching peaks of the Ilfen, Plattenspitze and Wolfebnerspitze. The trail heads left, past a mountain spring, to the Hermann-von-Barth-Hütte (2,131 metres). The hut is named after Hermann von Barth, who was one of the first to establish trails and huts in the Karwendel Mountains, Allgäu Alps and Lechtal Alps. Chances are that he stood atop pretty much every single one of the numerous peaks you can see from the hut.

The return leg leads first over to the Birgerkar ridge (2,120 metres), then down through the Birgertal Valley and the idyllic Bernhardstal Valley. Hikers pass the Zargenalm hut (1,430 metres, closed to the public), the Gibleralm hut (1,208 metres, open to the public) and eventually back down to the starting point in Elbigenalp.