Special places in the Wipptal - Part 1

12.03.2021

Part 1: Hidden gems in the mountaineering village of Schmirntal

This is the first part of a blog series in which I would like to introduce special places and people in the Wipptal and its mountain valleys. These unique places are often somewhat hidden and not so well known. Only those who are open to new things and explore the world with all their senses can recognize their beauty. I was certainly surprised by the positive effect these places had on me.

In the first blog, I would like to present five "hidden gems" in the mountaineering village of Schmirntal that I particularly like. However, this is a subjective view and it is therefore difficult to say whether other people feel the same as I do. The best thing is to go and see the places for yourself ;)

#1: The Kluppe - through the gorge to the alpine paradise

The Kluppental valley lies in the Schmirntal valley to the north of the rearmost district of "Ladins" (before Kasern). From the hamlet of Obern, a goods road leads through the impressive gorge, where the snow remains from avalanches even in summer. In early summer, the road is cleared so that the grazing cattle can be taken to the extensive alpine pastures beyond. The path is often lined with meter-high walls of snow. Behind the gorge lies a wide basin with beautiful alpine meadows and a few alpine huts in the middle. After about an hour's hike above the alpine pasture in the direction of Lizumer Reckner, you will find the "Kristall-Grüberl" - a large rock that has broken apart or a kind of stone pit where, with a bit of luck, you can find small rock crystals. You can find a circular hike via the Durrachjöchl and the Kluppe here in our tour planner.

#2: The "lock" in the Wildlahnertal valley

The Issealm is located in the Wildlahnertal valley, right at the foot of the majestic Olperer (3,476 m). It includes a small, unmanaged alpine hut on a meadow hill, which can be reached from Toldern in about an hour's walk along a forest path. The alpine pasture area is extensive and in summer there are around 250 sheep and around 100 young cattle and cattle from several Schmirn and Vals farmers on the beautiful high pastures. Among them are also the North Tyrolean Grey Alpine cattle, which are a specialty of the Schmirn and Vals gourmet region and can be tasted at the region's gourmet innkeepers, e.g. at the Gasthaus Olpererblick. If you walk a little further from the alpine hut along the hiking trail in the direction of Olperer to the next hill, you will discover a hidden boulder barrier with a small waterfall behind it. However, there is no lake of water behind the wall, just rubble and stones. Nevertheless, it is a great sight and a place you would not expect to find. The wall was built in the 1950s as protection against mudslides or a glacier collapse, such as the one in 1868 when the Wildlahner stream destroyed the entire hamlet of Wildlahner.

#3: Collection of historical tools used in mountain farming

Hidden in the barn of the Jenewein family's alpine hut (Vulgo Purer) at the end of the Schmirn valley in Kasern is an exhibition of historical tools and implements used in mountain farming. The collection can be admired from May on request by telephone (Tel: +43 664 494 9026). The owner and passionate collector Ernst Jenewein is happy to tell you everything he knows about their purpose and use in earlier times. It is also interesting to note that Schmirn was a cultivation and breeding area for potato seed (varieties: Oberarnbacher Frühe and Agnes) in the middle of the last century. An educational film was even made about this in 1952 by the Tyrolean Chamber of Agriculture. Click here to watch the movie.

#4: Blossoming sunny slopes and avalanche control up close

The best way to get to the avalanche barrier is to take the circular hike to the Sumpfkopf (2,341 m). The tour starts from the upper end of the sunny slopes of the "Schmirner Leite" district, at the penultimate farm before the Hochgeneinerhof at 1,643 m or directly from St. Jodok. The ascent is via a goods road through the forest until the forest thins out and a few Swiss stone pines still grow. At a hut in front of the clearly visible avalanche barrier ("Auf der Lacke"), trail no. 73 A branches off to the Hochgeneiner Jöchl. This section is particularly beautiful in June, when everything is in bloom and frogs and dragonflies frolic at the "Lacke" (small pond) along the path. Once you reach the ridge, you can choose to either walk out of the valley to the Hochgeneiner Jöchl (1,961 m) (descent back via Hochgeneinerhof) or ascend into the valley via trail no. 43 to the Sumpfkopf (2,341 m), where there is a connecting trail (no. 65) back to the goods road below the avalanche barrier. Here to the tour in the interactive map.

#5: Mader Ochsenalm

This unknown alpine pasture area is located at the front of Ladins (before Kasern) and consists of three rustic huts on a beautiful plateau. If you head towards Kasern, the forest path starts shortly after the avalanche galleries on the left-hand side in front of a barn. Once you reach the top, you have a wonderful view down to Kasern and are surrounded by rock faces. Tip: As children, we used to climb the large rock above the huts (see picture below).