Day 1: Katschberg Talstation – Neue Bonner Hütte

Getting up at 4.30 a.m. is early. Like in are-you-out-of-your-mind early! But getting to the start of today’s tour is rather difficult: train to Spittal, bus to Gmünd, bus to Katschberg Talstation. And since the only bus from Gmünd leaves at 7.20 a.m. there’s no other way than to get up when it’s still dark outside…

We left our accommodation by 5 a.m. since there wasn’t a breakfast included anyway. But a small bakery at the train station in Villach was already open and so we got a coffee and ate our own supplies.

It took us 2 hours in total to get to Katschberg but everything was on time and it was an interesting bus drive. Interesting as in wow-that-street-looks-narrow-does-it-really-fit-a-bus-and-a-car? For the records: it did.

And we revisited Gmünd where we were during our Alle Adria Trail – a pretty little town. We only had 20 minutes so only made some photos:

In the small 20 seats bus from Gmünd we were the only ones and the driver asked whether we’ll be coming back with the bus later on too, but we explained that we’ll be hiking around for the next few days. 😉

At first, up to the mountain station of the Aineck Bahn we hiked a steep 4×4 road which was not so charming but easy and quick to hike.

Up on 2.200m the view was great and the wind harsh. We paused only for a few photos and continued on. Funny thing: down it said that it takes 2 hours to get up but it only took us 50 minutes. Not sure what kind of hikers would need 2 hours. Perhaps the Flipflops kind. 😉

Further on the path was lovely! A typical pasture path along the mountain ridge with great views to all sides and blueberry bushes all along the way. The air was awesome and no one was around. It was paradise!

A little down the way there were more and more larches and even more blueberries.

It was an alpine pasture par excellence!

And not far from today’s destination we finally met other people. A guy and two mothers with children collecting blueberries.

And then we already arrived at the Neue Bonner Hütte. If it wasn’t for all the blueberries that found their way into my stomach we would have been there around 10 a.m.!

The hut is beautifully located, in the midst of the pasture, no street noises just the buzzing of the insects and the bells of the cows. We got a double room, rather big and though it’s shared facilities as far as shower and WC is concerned it’s really luxurious for an alpine hut!

Dinner will be vegetable soup, Käsespätzle and Apple strudel.

We don’t have any reception for our smartphones in the hut at all so a little while down the road at the 6th fence post below a small barn I was able to get this through. 😂 Only the photos will be here tomorrow.

So far the start was perfect!

Some figures:

• 9km
• 600m up
• 500m down
• Highest point: 2.210m (Aineck)
• Rain: none
• Blueberries: beyond count!