From Südwiener Hütte to Franz Fischer Hütte

^22-07-24

We’re off early again to make use of the cooler morning hours. Again we’re continuing on the Zentralalpenweg 02.

For a while we’re following the high voltage power lines; guessing from the protective structures there’s quite strong winds and lots of snow here during winter…

After a good -but not too steep- climb, we reach the pass of Taferlscharte at 2236m asl.

From there it’s first steeply down, and then traversing in a long curve along the mountain ridge.

It’s quite long, a bit up and a bit down… but there’s plenty of sights on the way:

It’s already a long, hot day, and we keep our motivation up by the hope for a cool drink and maybe some cake at Jakoberalm. But unfortunately it’s closed this season… So we have to make do with their delicious, cool spring water.

We also sample their toilets: 9 out of 10 points!

Then it’s more up and down and through roasting temperature fields of Latschen. We make up delirious stories about the conspiracy of the marmots to keep ourselves entertained.

Finally we get to Essersee, and some fellow hikers, who we pass by, recommend it dearly to go for a swim there. It’s supposedly much nice than the lake by the hut; and also it’s not far to the hut from here anyway.

We won’t be asked twice – and all jump into the lake. What a delight!

After having cooled down, we almost sprint the last kilometer down to the mountain refuge hut at 2020m asl, where we get a very warm and kind welcome and more refreshing cool drinks that we enjoy in what tiny corner of shadow there is on the terrace.

Then we get served a lovely three-course vegan dinner – we’re in heaven!

Day 2 statistics:

14,3km, 1030m ascent, 815m descent

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