Hike #1: Kleiner Pal / Pal Piccolo

Aim of this hike: Find and explore the open-air museum of Kleiner Pal in the Carnic Alps where one can find the intact remnants of World War I like bunkers, defense positions, trenches and more.

• Part 1: Kleiner Pal Hike (Italian side)
  Our morning began with parking on Italian grounds to start our hike from the parking lot trailhead – which only went up to a certain distance (about 1km in) before it was too risky to continue. The rocky route was too loose and seemed like it was built for climbing and doing it with no harness was too much for the acrophobic me. Despite feeling defeated knowing this was our only planned activity for the day, it was still a beautiful climb with some cool bunkers and war remnant sightings along the way.
  
• Lunch at the Border Restaurant of Al Valico Carnico
  Soon after reaching back to the parking lot – I realised I had brought the group on a different trail than I intended! It was supposed to be the trail that begins on the Austrian side (some 100m away).
  We had to use a restroom nearby and decided (out of guilt) to dine in the only restaurant at that border which turned out to be lovely despite some language barrier and wrong orders. The restaurant was VERY busy at that hour but I’m glad I got my actual Italian-made pasta fix!
  
• Part 2: Kleiner Pal Hike (Austrian side)
  With our tummies semi-full on pasta and bowels cleared, we headed on the right trail and boy was it a fun but steep climb.

• Not far from the start, we found the Austro-Hungarian All-Round Machine Gun Position. I love that the remnant is well maintained – you can imagine what it was like during the war. More info on the open-air museum here.

• We continued much further up (a steep but beautiful climb it was) only to be stopped in our tracks when I first heard a really loud and long hiss to my right. I noticed what I’m guessing was a Common European Viper/Adder, about half a metre from the trail (where I was), ready to strike.

• After taking a few steps back, I insisted to continue only because we were possibly 30-45 minutes from the peak – where the rest of the war remnants were! Plans still changed though when I took another step and the viper which slithered away at first, reappeared with more hissing.
  
  That marked the end of our exploration as we had to head back down and call it a day at our cosy container home.

• Click here (coming soon) to check-out our cool glamping site (15 minutes drive from this trail).

Where to Park
Immediately after the tunnel opening, make a U-Turn to the left into the parking area just before the Wind Turbine
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ves22FmwrEXBYqxH8?g_st=aw

Trailhead
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qHKGooTZDRmhqz8f6?g_st=aw

GPX
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/pal-piccolo-dal-passo-monte-croce-carnico-ud-85320499

Toll Fee
NIL

Hike #2: Sulzenau Alm

Aim of this hike: Watch this vlog starting from minute 8:45 and tell me this isn’t a place out of a movie. The Sulzenau Alm is a gorgeous trail that leads to 3-4 massive, tall waterfalls falling into a basin-like valley structure.

• You begin at Grawa Wasserfall trailhead
  You know it is a good hike when you start with an already crazy viewpoint of Grawa Wasserfall. The hike is easy with certain steep points but very much doable within an hour or less. It is a scenic fairytale like trail, with wooden steps and mossy cover.

• Follow the yellow signages that points to Sulzenau Alm. At the intersection pictured on the right below, turn left. (When going back, both trails lead you down to the main road but one is slightly longer and ends further up the road. Follow the same trail down for the shorter route.)

• After the intersection, follow the mostly flat route and you will arrive at Sulzenau Alm. The main waterfall you see is Sulzenau Wasserfall.

• The best landscape is during the summer when farm animals roam the valley and you can have a meal or drinks at the hut. You can also continue up the trail to the right of the alm, and head above Sulzenau Falls which branches into many more trails with different views (one of it passing by a blue lake).
• My suggestion of another hike you can do within the same day is the Wolfsklamm Gorge hike that leads you to a monastery among the woods. We were not able to make it due to time constraint (we stayed too far from this region and took our time with this hike so my mum can hike at a comfortable pace).

Where to Park
Parkplatz Sulzenauhütte / Parkplatz Grawa Alm

Trailhead
Walk down the obvious path from Grawa Alm towards Grawa Wasserfall. Follow the Yellow Signage along the way.

GPX
https://de.wikiloc.com/routen-wandern/sulzenau-alm-7317679

Toll Fee
€4 (May be wrong as I’ve messed up my records)

Weather Webcam
Nearest cam: Eisgrat Gondola

Hike #3: Olperer Hütte

Aim of this hike: The hike is known for it’s famous viewpoint at the hut – where a suspension bridge is hung at a photogenic angle overlooking the Schlegeis Lake (Schlegeis Stausee).

• The hike is fairly straightforward – simply follow the obvious and marked path all the way to the hut. It may take an hour or two one-way and the views throughout the trail is absolutely beautiful! You’ll come close to the massive Riepenbach Wasserfall on the way – be sure to enjoy the views as you climb.
  
  Once you reach the top, enjoy the view and grab your photos at the bridge.

• This is a well-known trail and locals have mentioned that the crowd can get unbearable during the summer. In their words: it’s like a million people up there! Imagine queueing for an hour just to get a photo at the bridge. We had at most only 10 other people with us at the bridge.
• Two suggestions of nearby places you can visit:
  1. The also famous spot of Krimml Wasserfall. There are lots of info you can find online on this trail to what is claimed as the largest waterfalls in Europe.
  2. Lake Stillup hike – a picturesque lake hike nearby.

Where to Park
The parking spot is right beside the trailhead linked below. There are signages provided.

Trailhead
Olpererhütte Hike Trailhead

GPX
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/olpererhutte-walking-trail-the-shortest-502-no-143290255

Toll fee
€18

Weather Webcam
Schlegeis Stausee