SHORT ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
Gailberghöhe-Gailtaler Höhenweg-Ochsenalm-Jukbichl-Dellacher Alm-Römersteig-südl. Jaukenhöhe-Jaukenalm/Hütte-Ranzkofel-nördl. Schwalbenwand-Jaukensattel-Johannesquelle-Reißkofel-Biwak-Reißkofel-Kleiner Reißkofel-Köfeletörl/229-Padiaursteig-westl. Dristallkofel-E. T. Compton hut/235
EXACT ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
1. we hike from the Gailberghöhe hut along the B 110 to the N, and at the end of the PP turn right up into the forest or to the Schindlgraben - we hike along the Gailtaler Höhenweg (GHW 229) to Warmbad Villach (stage 30). After approx. 1.5 km we follow a main farm track (HWW) in a southerly direction and after approx. 900 m to the NE - we reach the Mitterkeilhütte after approx. 850 m (1st break, 3.3 km, 1300 m).
2. leave the HWW and follow path no. 229 to the right, SW and reach a dilapidated hut on the Marktalm on a natural path. After approx. 100 m we reach a HWW, which we leave again after approx. 400 m heading NE - the well-marked path takes us first to the Ochsenalm and immediately afterwards along the HWW to the Jukbichl junction. An initially steep climb takes us along the marked path to the summit cross (2nd break, 7.5 km, 1888 m).
ALTERNATIVE 1: Bypass the Jukbichl/bühel on a HWW on the GHW (variant) to the north (time saving: 10 minutes)
3. we follow the GHW on the eastern slope and meet a HWW, which leads us south-west of the Kaserlahnkopf to the Dellacher Alm - approx. 300 m afterwards we go straight ahead at a fork. After approx. 650 m, we cross the gravel path leading to the Plonalm and turn towards an uphill, less pronounced path - it takes us to a HWW coming from the left - we head to the right, SE and at the height of a "summit cross" (right), already in the Jauken massif, we take our 3rd break after approx. 400 m , 11.8 km, 1919 m.
4th We stay south of the Jaukenstöckl on the Römersteig - it leads us south of the Jaukenhöhe and a derelict lead mine into the centre of the Jauken, to the Jaukenwiesen with the Jaukenalm/Hütte (4th, long break, 14.2 km, 1994 m).
5. from the Jaukenalm hut we walk across a meadow to the NE and meet a HWW - we follow this to the right, E and leave it again after approx. 400 m. We walk straight ahead - following a less pronounced marking - and largely parallel (on gentle meadows) to the HWW. This narrow "Roman path" takes us to the Ranzkofel and immediately afterwards to a hiking trail coming from the right, directly at a crossroads, north of the Schwalbenwand (5th break, 18 km, 1650 m).
6. we continue downhill to the Ochsenschluchtalm and meet a HWW with path no. 233 - we turn right, east and reach the Jaukensattel after approx. 200 m on a path. We continue straight ahead, steadily ascending and after approx. 1.1 km reach the Reißkogel bivouac box, south of the Johannesquelle (6th break, 19.5 km, 1822 m).
ALTERNATIVE 2: If you are not sure-footed and are also afraid of heights, you should definitely hike down to the right at the Reißkofel bivouac in order to bypass the Reißkofel to the south - more precisely:
Reißkofelbiwak - Holzwiesen - Welzberg - Gh. Reißkofelbad (04284 2700)- Gregorihütte/Wurzen - Alpelspitz - Köfele Törl/235
[compared to the "Alpinweg" you lose 2 1/2 hours, hike 5 km further and have 600 metres more ascent and 600 metres more descent - but there is an overnight accommodation option].
7. with good markings, we reach the Reißkofel (7th break, 21.2 km, 2374 m) - via Plattach - in the last climbing section coming from the north.
8. partly along the ridge, the GHW 229 leads us down to Köfele Törl and meets path no. 235 coming from the right - before that we ignore a path on the right (danger sign!) (8th break, 22 km, 2140 m).
9. northwest of the Kleiner Reißkofel we hike down a path, ignoring a path to the right that leads to the Schaflerhöhe (stage 27). Partly secured by ropes, we continue west of the Dristallkofel along the Padiaursteig and reach the E. T. Compton Hütte (23 km, 1585 m) after this difficult mountain tour.
