I just wanted to get out. Two days off, hike, reach a hut somewhere – and see how far I get.
Without a plan, but with a lot of curiosity in the backpack and the vague idea: "Will go wrong."
What I didn't know:
How steep a gravel road can really be.
How quickly a thunderstorm rises in the mountains.
That in the end a schnitzel makes up for everything.
What was planned as a short break became a mixture of Frontier experience, nature cinema and a small personal milestone, of which I am incredibly proud.
Spoiler: I've gotten wet. I have cursed. And I was as happy as rarely.
Table of contents
2 days cottage tour in Karwendel – Stage 1: Achenkirch to Plumsjochhütte
When is your stupid ending?!
I'm gasping. I curse. I pull my cup deeper in the face. The road ahead of me: gravel, steep, endless. It's thundering. It's raining. The wind whips in my face. Another 100 meters to the hut – and I am completely at the end.
This was the last ascent. The hardest of all. In Serpentines it went two hours Long steep uphill, no end in sight, only rubble and my dwindling energy. I had really thought on the last few meters: "I can’t do more." My head said "stop," my legs anyway. But I went on. In Mini-steps. Sometimes also slightly oblique, main thing somehow forward.
And then -- the cross,. I saw it. The summit was only a few minutes away. I could hardly believe it. Then on the last meters, it started in To rain currents. The wind suddenly whipped around my ears, pushing me backwards. I fought my way up to the top and suddenly all weakness, all fatigue was blown away. In front of me was really The most beautiful view of the Karwendel.
Completely soaked, but with a wide grin on my face I arrived at the hut. I think I've never been more excited about a statement than this one: Yes, we have warm water!
How did it come to this?
Well – I thought to myself: "If I can walk 23 kilometers around a lake, then 18 kilometers through the mountains will probably be feasible."
Wrong decision.
A lake in the flatlands is simply not a Karwendel.
So I went around in the morning. 7 o’clock from Achenkirch (916m) Towards the Path Seekar-Alm (1500m) . I was up after about 1 hour, although the path was quite exhausting. I guess I was just fit and motivated. 😂
Actually, I had planned to wander over both mountain peaks ()Seekarspitze: 2053m, Seebergspitze: 2085m), but decided to walk around. I was rewarded with some wonderful views.
After I had a small breakfast break in the middle of a picturesque environment behind me, I went over the Pasill saddles (1680m) on towards Pertisau. I cursed on the descent because the path I was constantly slipping. This has me so stressed and annoyedI had to take a break every few minutes. There I was already a good 10km on the way and felt already every fiber of my body.
Late at noon I arrived at the Gernalm an (1172m) And waited there for the first rain shower (I did not know yet that a second shower would come...). And then I took my last stage. Plumsjochhütte (1669m) an. And how it went, I already described above...
When I finally Clap wet and completely finished arrived at the hut, I was just glad I made it. I threw off my backpack, took off my shoes, took a deep breath. I was tired, thirsty, my legs burned – but I had not given up.
I was incredibly proud to have made it this far.. And reallly, really happy.
And then came the moment that put the crown on that day: The dinner. And no - I do not exaggerate when I say: This Schnitzel it was a poem. delicate, juicy, crisp on the outside golden brown, with potato salad, which had just the right mixture of sweet and sour. I celebrated every single bite. Not just because I was hungry, but because it really was the Best Schnitzel I ever ate.
This first day of my 2 days cottage tour in Karwendel: it has pushed me to my limits – physically, mentally and emotionally.
I often had to think about giving up.
But I didn't.
I went through.
And I would do it again anytime, just for those stunning and unique views.
2 days cottage tour in Karwendel – Stage 2: Plumsjochhütte to Achenkirch
The next morning I woke up surprisingly recovered – without sore muscles. I was a little surprised at how well I slept. Maybe it was the cozy beds with fresh bedding, maybe just the clear mountain air. Anyway, I felt really recovered.
Still slightly sleepy I looked out the window – And what I saw there was just wow:
I did not have a fixed plan for the day. My goal was only the Plumsjochhütte. So I asked the host for a nice route, which is not too exhausting – and he recommended the Grasalm. It should be nice, he said. And the way there, too.
Said, done. I was still having breakfast, lacing my shoes, filling my water bottle and making my way. But after a short time I realized: My legs had other plans. The muscles felt really tired, each pitch was tough.
So I only walked for about an hour, then I just lay down in front of the Kompar mountain in the grass. I had no more energy – but honestly: it was perfect. I played a bit on my harmonica, looked at the sky, let the wind stroke me. And enjoyed the moment.
At some point I picked myself up and hiked further – not steeply uphill, but rather gently to the other side Saddle yoke (1900m). As I felt fitter again, I thought for a short moment about whether I still had the Montscheinspitze (2109m) You should take it with you. But the idea of just sitting on top of the meadow and doing nothing was somehow much more tempting. 😂
So I stayed. And sat there, hour after hour. I looked at the mountains, breathed the cool, clean air, let my thoughts drift.
Around 2 p.m., I noticed my legs getting heavier and my concentration slowly waned. So I made the only sensible decision: back home.
I took the same path down that I had come up. And what can I say: Down is definitely not the same relaxed. I am mega slow and walked carefully, I felt like I had taken a break after every turn – and decided several times that I would rather Team uphill.
Shortly before the valley I came to the Pletzach-Sennhütte (1000m) over. I was thirsty, so I asked for water – and got ice-cold spring water from the potion. A dream! By the way, I bought some Chimney roots Then he talked to the woman.
We talked about God and the world, about life on the alpine pasture, about coincidences and paths that you walk like this. When I wanted to say goodbye, she squeezed me a fat covered ham bread in hand and invited me to visit them again.
Around half-past five I arrived in Pertisau And decided not to run the last piece. I bought myself a Ticket for the boat – and left me 30 minutes later across the water back to Achenkirch Shippers.
During the ride, a crazy thought suddenly came to me: How nice would it be to discover the world with a sailboat? Who knows, maybe someday.
Rear 18:00 I was home again. Tired, happy, somehow dazed – as if I came from a Other world back.
Because that's what it really felt like up there in the mountains.
Everything was different up there: Silent, further, clearer. The mountains worked Huge and strong – and at the same time very fine, if you look closer.
For a first Multi-day migration This was a more than successful start. And certainly not the last.
Would you like to walk the Camino de Santiago? All trips start with a good packing list. Here along to Packing list Jakobsweg (pilgrims) + extra tips for women.
Packing list for my 2 day cottage tour in Karwendel
- 30 litres of hiking backpack
- 70cm x 100cm light walking towel
- Walking shoes
- 3 pairs of socks (2 for hiking and one pair for the night/evening)
- 2 Underpants
- 2 BH's
- A long and a short pair of pants
- 2 T-shirts
- A sweater/fleece
- 1 Rain jacket
- Pyjamas
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deo, crest
- Peppermint oil for headaches
- Soap in the Block
- Sunscreen and UV lip protection
- Drinking bottle
- Bladder patches
- Snacks
- Harmonised mouth
- Pocket knives
- Smartphone with charging cable and plug
- Käppi
I wore this from the packing list at the beginning: hiking shoes, socks, underwear, bra, t-shirt, cappi, long trousers.
If you are planning a longer hike, you will find the suitable packing list here: Packing List Hiking Holidays: Printing Checklist.
Here you can download the packing list for the 2 day cottage tour in the Karwendel as PDF and supplement it individually!
Frequently asked questions about the 2-day cottage tour in Karwendel
How quickly can the weather change in the mountains?
Very fast! I myself got into a storm, although it was still sunny in the morning. Good rain clothing, a look at the weather report and flexible planning are super important – safety comes first.
Do I have to reserve the cabins in advance – and what do they cost?
Yes, a reservation is recommended if you want to stay on a weekend or during holiday periods. During the week, the huts are usually quiet, but it never hurts to ask first. Cabins cost between 40 and 80 euros, depending on how you want to sleep (Merhbettzimmer, Doppellzimmer, etc.).
Which route is suitable for a 2-day hut tour in Karwendel?
There are many beautiful variants – I started in Achenkirch, Tyrol. My tip: Start with a route near you and do fewer kilometers than take over. The altitude meters are often more strenuous than expected. Better arrive relaxed than arrive completely exhausted upstairs.
Is it worth eating at the huts?
Yes – on my tour the food was really good, the Schnitzel even a real highlight. There are actually always vegetarian dishes, and if you eat vegan, I would call in advance or check on the website. But snacks in your backpack never hurt – especially on long stages or when it comes later.
