| rasto_r13. 08. 2012 15:44:08 |
I don't know which group to professionally classify this mountain into, closest according to the data on www.austrianmap.at/amap/ it seems to me it's the Silvretta group. Here in the south, on the border with Switzerland, Piz Buin (3312m) reigns, perhaps better known to "brown tan" hunters than hikers, Hohes Rad is a nice, not too strenuous peak on the border between Tyrol and Vorarlberg.
Starting point is at Bielerhöhe Pass (2037m), reached by toll road from Montafon valley and from the Tyrolean end.
I did a circular route, first along the western shore of Silvretta lake, to Wiesbadener Hütte hut (2443m), over Radsattel pass (2652m) to the summit. Back first to the saddle below the summit and then under the eastern walls back to Silvretta lake.
Western access to the hut is almost a highway - wide path, almost suitable for sandals. Masses of hikers unaccustomed to mountains go there to admire mainly the glaciers under Piz Buin and the source and beautiful initial flow of the Ill river, which first flows to Silvretta reservoir lake, then past Bludenz and Feldkirch to the Rhine, just before its outflow into Lake Constance. There's really no water shortage in this end - but maybe because of that glaciers will soon be in "shortage"!
"Tourists" thin out somewhat on the path to Radsattel, as the ascent is more substantial, nature and path more pristine. Even more mountaineering atmosphere from here on. Path first crosses almost horizontally some snow patches and climbs to the saddle (approx. 2700m). From there to the summit another three quarters of an hour steep ascent, partly easy climbing. Views from the summit, marked with a cross with a large gentian in the middle, are of course expectedly magnificent. To see the part of the lake where the start is, need to do a few more meters north, otherwise Piz Buin reigns south, surrounded by glaciers, all around beautiful views of peaks, valleys, wild waters. Although based on Slovenian hill heights I'm used to it seemed I'd be high above surroundings, I still looked somewhat upward at many peaks.
Descent path to the saddle is less problematic than it seemed going up. Here I headed directly north, where the path was harder to follow and more demanding. Snow patches, screes, shattered reddish iron-filled scree rocks (besides the whole "mess" of other rocks - granite, marble etc.) and roaring water heard from under rocks pump at least some adrenaline through veins - and all hikers disappeared... yeah, here more caution is warranted. Otherwise it seems most despite detour return to Radsattel saddle and descend to valley via more idyllic valley past little Radsee lake.
Although elevation gain isn't that big, path goes somewhat around, so for ascent to summit via hut count about five hours leisurely pace walking. Descent by described route takes approximately two and a half hours.
Definitely extremely nice tour, recommend to anyone hanging around that end.
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