Hi Reiner

Inspired by your website, I went with my family on a short Karwendel trip in

August this year. We had such a great time, and I found your website so

useful (and enthusiastic) that I thought I would pay you back with a report.

There were four of us - my wife and I (who are in our early fifties) and our

two sons aged 10 and 14. I have done a fair amount of hill-walking in the

UK and a bit in the Alps, but the others were less experienced. Before we

went, they were not all that enthusiastic about the idea, but in the end they

admitted that they had really enjoyed the trip. Even though it was very

short and easy by your standards, to us it was a big adventure!

We walked for four days from Schwaz to Scharnitz, staying at the Lamsenjoch,

Falken and Karwendel Huts. (THIS IS AN EXCELENT TOUR FOR GROUPS

LIKE DESCRIBED HERE) It all went really well - we were lucky with the

weather, which was hot and sunny, and we really enjoyed meeting other walkers

along the way and at the huts. And the Karwendel mountains are a wonderful

place, peaceful and completely unspoilt by roads or ski machinery.

Here are a few observations, in no particular order. Perhaps they might be

of some use to some of your readers.

1. We really enjoyed the huts - for their history, location and

atmosphere. These three are quite large, of course, and they are very well

run by hardworking people. Our favourite was the Lamsenjoch Hut - a great

place, run by a really friendly and enthusiastic young couple. The

Karwendelhaus is a magnificent place in a splendid position, but it feels

less remote and special - perhaps because people drive up by minibus from

Scharnitz. (THIS IS ALLOWED ONCE A DAY. I DON'T LIKE IT BUT I'M

SURE THE KEEPER DOES :-)) But it is a very well-run and pleasant hut -

and they even do a vegetarian Bergsteigeressen!

2. I agree with you that it is useful to call at Eng to buy food, though as

you say it is a bit of a shock to the system being in such a touristy place.

But you can get decent food there. There's a souvenir shop right at the end

of the valley, opposite the Rasthaus Engalm, which sells farmer's produce -

great sausage and cheese and the best bread I've ever eaten in Austria!

(I CAN RECOMMEND EVERYBODY THE ALM-CHEESE AND SAUSAGES

THAT CAN BE BOUGHT IN THE ENTIRE AREA (AND TIROL). THESE ARE

A TASTE SENSATION COMPARED TO THE INDUSTRIAL FOOD YOUR

USED TO AT HOME! JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY MADE

ON AN ALM)

3. Take plenty of cash. The prices for food and drink in the huts are

surprisingly reasonable, but a family will still eat and drink its way

through a lot of schillings after a long hard day's walking! Of the three

huts we visited, only the Karwendelhaus takes credit cards, I think. It's

definitely worth taking tea bags, instant coffee, margarine and crispbreads

etc. and then you can make your own cheap breakfast using Teewasser.

4. It's definitely worth joining the OeAV, even for such a short trip.

Accommodation is much cheaper for members - we saved the cost of our

membership in only three days! And you also get insurance, and of course the

good feeling of belonging to the club. If you're in the UK, there's a

Sektion Britannia, which has an office in Welwyn Garden City.

I hope these comments might be of some use to another family wondering

whether to do such a trip or not. My advice would be, make sure you've got

decent boots and raingear, don't try and do too much in one day (after all,

you're on holiday!), read all the guidebooks and plan the route carefully -

and go for it!

Viel Spass

David Hoult