Almkogel 2121 m via Gamsstein, Totes Gebirge

Route description: See also detailed "Time-altitude diagram in the picture gallery".

HIKE: On the forest road on path 216 from the GH Baumschlagerreith (724 m) past the Dolomitensteig junction (850 m) and on the forest road with a shortcut to the Poppenalm 1054 m. Continue over the alpine plateau, briefly through the forest and over a mighty scree slope. This is soon followed by a steep ascent with a rope safety device, when it becomes flatter soon steeply to the left to the ridge at around 1350 metres. Back in the high forest, up to the right of the edge, through a depression and to the rope protection at 1435 m. This ends at 1505 m. Continue uphill in a kind of shady gorge until you reach the signpost at the Salzsteigjoch at 1733 m. 1025 metres of ascent and a good 2 hours at a reasonably brisk pace.

Transitions: Now turn left, without a path, steeply to the Latschengasse, watch out for path tracks and Steinmanderl, at approx. 1850 m through a hollow and follow the path track uphill to the right. When you see the Almkogel, turn left and continue without a path to the Gamsstein 1996 m with a simple cross.

Shortly descend to a plateau (~1970 m), cross to the left, partly through mountain pine lanes and slightly uphill to the ridge break. Descend a few metres and we meet the marked trail 277 from the Tauplitz (~1960 m). Over the summit slope up to the Almkogel, summit cross (2,116 m). Another 435 metres of ascent and almost 1 1/2 hours walking time. A total of 1460 metres in altitude with the small counter ascents.

DESCENT: First a few steps through a hollow to the nearby main summit at 2121 m, then climb down steeply(I-II) mostly directly on the ridge and follow the ridge downwards. Hop over a crack, climb up a little and continue descending along the ridge. There are always great rock formations to admire on the left and deep views. Finally, turn right under the ridge through mountain pine lanes - don't lose them, they must be cut out - and climb a few metres up to the Hochsteinscharte at 1755 metres.

Climb over here, cross on the path to the right of the gorge, descend over a steep step (old protection ~1725 m) and soon climb slightly up to the start of the forest (~1650 m). Descend through the forest, the path track can be indistinct, to a clearing at around 1460 metres. Now descend somewhat arduously to the left over the very steep meadow slope to the visible Lögerhütte (1370 m). Now we use the marked path again, past the Hochsteinalm 1296 m and from ~1085 m a small counter ascent to ~1100 m. On the left you can quickly climb up to the Hochstein (~1125 m) with a view. At 825 m (forest road reached) turn left at the signpost, again briefly down a path and to the next forest road at 740 m. Follow this to the left to GH Baumschlager. Follow this to the left to GH Baumschlagerreith, where we finish the tour. 90 metres uphill and 2 3/4 hours walking time.
Total according to the diagram: 1550 metres uphill, 6 1/4 hours walking time at a reasonably brisk pace, distance approx. 13.2 km according to the system.