Zottachkopf ( 2.046 m)

Level of difficulty: Medium

5.3 km

Distance
3.5 h

Duration
1525 vm

Lowest elevation
2010 vm

Highest elevation
485 vm
485 vm

Zottachkopf ( 2.046 m)

Rugged hilltop in the Trogkofel’s shadow, its „little brother“ so to speak.

Suggestion

Records show that Gailtal Valley cheese was produced on the alpine farms as early as the 13th century. The tradition of cheesemaking has been passed on by the farming families from generation to generation for the past 700 years. The alpine dairy farmers contribute to the preservation of this beautiful cultural landscape by using the resources, which nature provides, with great care.

All this also applies to the Rattendorfer Alm, one of 13 other associated alpine dairies in the region. All member farms produce the „Gailtal Valley Alpine Cheese PGI“ according to a traditional and stipulated method. PGI means protected geographical indication and is an award conferred by the EU. Discover how authentic and tasty this speciality is by sampling the product after the adventurous mountain tour to the Zottachkopf.

In the alpine hut on the Rattendorfer Alm.

Equipment

Depending on season, but the following items are always necessary:

Practical hiking clothes, windbreaker jacket, headwear, rainwear, hiking/mountain boots, packed lunch/snacks, plenty of beverages, change of clothes, various personal items like camera and mobile phone, sun screen, sun glasses, First Aid kit, etc.

Directions

The well-maintained mountain road (gravel road) toward the Rattendorfer Alm starts at the southern edge of the village Rattendorf – situated directly in the bed of the valley. The impressive boulders, surrounding the brook bed of the Doberbach stream, can already be seen after the first few bends. Passing through the gate at the bottom edge of the alpine pasture (always close the gate behind you), the road continues with a few more bends across open alpine pastures and leads to the car park directly beneath the Rattendorfer Alm.

A first glimpse

Some impressions of the tour

Directions

DIRECTIONS (Ascent):

The well-marked and signposted steep road towards Rattendorfer Schneid begins directly after the alpine hut in southern direction. After a few minutes, signposts will direct you to the left toward the Zottachkopf. The trail leads up a moderate ascent across an Alpine meadow to a „Sea of Stones“ – a formation consisting of impressive boulders – just beneath the Zottachkofel Massif. Crossing the massif on the marked trail, you will arrive at the foot with well-signposted crossroads. Here you have to decide in what direction you want to carry on:

Via ferrata (to the right) or the Sagmeister Steig (to the left).

All your efforts will be rewarded if you choose the first option. And anyway: you can always easily turn around and use the Sagmeister Steig to reach the summit if you cannot manage the so-called „Schlüsselstelle“ (directly after crossroads) at the beginning of the via ferrata.

The slightly exposed ascent across fossil-rich muschelkalk and reef limestone rocks involves some light climbing and should be easily manageable whatever option you choose. There is a narrow wind gap just before the base of the summit which needs to be crossed. Climb the last sloping ledge and you will be rewarded with the most amazing summit view „made by Zottachkopf“.

DIRECTIONS (Descent):

Walk a few metres along the ascent trail, and then turn right on the southern slope of the Zottachkofel Massif. The descent leads across scree downhill to the Rattendorfer Schneid. From there, take the Carnic High Altitude Trail (KHW 403) and follow the trail – along the Rattendorfer Schneid - in western direction. You will arrive at a fork after a walking time of around half an hour. From here, climb downhill in northern direction to the Rattendorfer Alm.

More info