Tennen Mountains - Plateau Tour
Start point: Werfenweng village square
Distance: 24km
Time required: approx 8-9 hours (with breaks a little longer)
Metres in altitude climbed: 1800m
From the village square follow the Wengeraustraße in the direction of the valley head. You will pass the tennis courts and cross a brook and then continue through Ruhrdorf and finally to Wengerau car park where you will bear left towards Gamsblickalm. After 500m you will reach a junction where you can follow the road or a steep foot path over the high moor and finally to Elmaualm. You will need waterproof footwear as moors can be boggy. At the high moor bear right towards Elmaualm (1513m).
Shortly after Elmaualm you will find a spring which provides the last opportunity to fill water bottles before the Werfener Hut. Now follow the winding route up to the Werfener Hut (1967m) with views across the Salzach valley of Hohenwerfen Castle. After a well earned rest follow the signs for Thronleiter/Edelweißhütte where you are first encountered with 60 steps which equates to 20 metres. After this trickey ascent there is a steel cable which you follow up. Soon you will reach Edelweiß Hut which is the highest point of the tour. After this you continue across the Tennen plateau.
After a break in the Happischhaus continue in a easterly direction. The route is well marked and may in some places be covered in snow. After the Laufener hut you continue in a southerly direction and soon you will pass the greater and then the lesser Eiskogel. On the east side of the lessen Eiskogel you will come acoss ice caves which are only accessible in small groups with a guide (ask in the Tourist Office). The next landmarks are the Napf and the Tauernkogel and the route leads down to Hackel Hut. From the Hackel Hut follow route number 51 down to Wengerau from where you can make your way back to Werfenweng village square.