Hüttschlag: hike to the Schödersee

The path is not very nice, you walk almost only over stones but the view of the peaks of the Tauern is fantastic

GPS track incorrect - it was only 410 meters in altitude and 11.5 km ...

A wonderful route to the Schödersee in the Grossarltal....maybe it took a little longer, but with two children you have to take a break every now and then. Sure-footedness is a real advantage in some places...especially when the paths were flooded in places, as was the case with us.

Since thunderstorms and rain were announced for the afternoon, it shouldn't go that far and that high today. On the recommendation of the hiking seniors, we went to their Austrian vacation home, the Großarltal, and from there to the end of the valley in Hüttschlag. From the hiking car park we wanted to go up to the Schödersee. The ascent there is really beautifully laid out and leads over rustic forest paths. After a good hour of ascent, we arrived at the lake and understood what the term "(periodic)" on the hiking signs means. Where the lake actually is, there was now: nothing! We stood in the middle of the lake or on its bottom, a sandy steppe. A few cows were grazing nearby. Too bad but also kind of cool. Who can claim to have hiked on the bottom of a lake before...😉 We then met two foresters with whom I was able to have a nice chat about the possibilities of flying drones in Austrian mountain areas. 😬🫡 During the conversation we learned a little bit more about the area and, among other things, that the Schödersee is mainly formed in the time of melting and after heavy rainfall over longer periods. However, it will probably not be that easy to reach for the average hiker. The ascent route is likely to be quite complicated in the winter months and in heavy rains I can imagine that the creek that you follow all the time swells into a full-blown stream. The descent was pretty quick. In the meantime, the Ötzlsee, located at the lower entrance to the hiking trail, had filled up with a large number of day trippers and was almost reminiscent of an outdoor pool. Something to overflow us, which is why we returned directly to the parking lot. Conclusion: - A really nice hike, not too difficult, not too long - The goal of the Schödersee was somehow funny, great panorama in the valley basin - Theoretically, you can climb further from there to the Arlscharte, but then the tour becomes much more difficult because you are back in high alpine terrain - notepad for another time

Sun 🌞 so we used this day to hike around the lakes. Özlsee water was clear, enough fish 🐟 swam past, then we continued on to Schödersee, the climb was very rocky so it was better to take the hiking poles in hand ✋️ as it was getting increasingly smooth and slippery. Fabulous where the cattle run around over hill and dale 😯 arrived exhausted at Schödersee 😃 a little disappointed 😞 not much water, it will probably dry out completely at some point but a very nice, quiet spot 🌎 so highly recommended if you are ever in this area 👍

Lake Schödersee is not a permanent lake; it is only periodic. It dries out completely in summer.

Hiking at the head of the Grossarl Valley. From the parking lot at the Talwirt we went on a supply road to the Ötzlsee. From there continue on beautiful paths always uphill to Schödersee. There wasn't much to see, since there was little water at the time. But here the path is the goal. On the way back, a small detour to the Kreealm waterfall.

Something chilled today...unfortunately not enough of a view for my taste. But pure nature...