Rainy Day Hiking

A topic the majority of hikers know all about. The weather forecast for the next days is bleak, and instead of blue skies and sunshine the prognosis is for continuous rain. But, if you decide to remain in your accommodation, that is your own fault! As is known, there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing. Following this motto, hiking in the rain from “Best Mountain Artists” has developed into a real highlight. One of our most beautiful rainy day hikes in Saalbach Hinterglemm will take you over the Zwölferkogel to the Ellmau Alm and back to Hinterglemm.

Directly after the ascent with the Zwölferkogel lift, one will experience the first advantage of a rainy day hike: There are hardly any people around! Where, in an area there are normally many hikers and bikers, there are only wafts of mist and raindrops to be heard. Those who seldom venture to the mountain, should take the more direct route to the Ellmau Alm. Continue along the wide road and within more than one hour you will reach the mountain hut.

We decide to take the longer alternative and leave the road on the right-hand side to head in the direction of the Hoher Penhab. Here we are pretty much alone on the way. We make our way through the damp grass up toward the summit. Today, we are denied the panoramic view of the valley below. Nevertheless, the experience of a rainy day hike pays off on the mountain summit. There is almost no wind and the rain subsides. We continue our hike over a grassy ridge and after a while reach the top station of the Seekar T-bar lift. From here we are able to observe the surface of the natural lake which is situated just beneath the ridge, which ripples, as the rain drops fall. A scene which provides a setting for meditation of a natural kind. At this point, there is the possibility to follows the trail to the left as a short cut.Those really enjoying the rainy day hike, should continue along the ridge to the Stoffennieder. At the foot of the Manlitzkogel, the trail branches off to the Stoffen-Hochalm. At the Hochalm, the trail merges with a road. It has been forecasted that the rain will become heavier today, and we decide to put the umbrellas up. What has long been frowned upon by hikers, is still very popular with rainy day hikers. By using an umbrella, one can comfortably leave the hood of the rain jacket down and the disturbing rustling of fabric disappears and is replaced with the sounds of nature. Both left and right of us, we enjoy a more intense experience due to the clear view.

Those really enjoying the rainy day hike, should continue along the ridge to the Stoffennieder. At the foot of the Manlitzkogel, the trail branches off to the Stoffen-Hochalm. At the Hochalm, the trail merges with a road. It has been forecasted that the rain will become heavier today, and we decide to put the umbrellas up. What has long been frowned upon by hikers, is still very popular with rainy day hikers. By using an umbrella, one can comfortably leave the hood of the rain jacket down and the disturbing rustling of fabric disappears and is replaced with the sounds of nature. Both left and right of us, we enjoy a more intense experience due to the clear view.

A stop at the Ellmaualm

After so many fantastic views, we are nevertheless happy to arrive at the Ellmau Alm, where we take the chance to change into a dry shirt (is an important item in the rucksack). After drying off on a cosy stopover at the Ellmau Alm, we head onto the last part of the hike, which from the Ellmau Alm takes us through the forest to the middle station of the Zwölferkogel lift. The forest is particularly charming when it’s raining. The air is filled with the aroma of earth, resin and fresh wood. Even with all these sensory distractions, we have to concentrate and keep an eye on where we walk, as there many slippery roots. Thoroughly relaxed, we arrive at the Zwölferkogel middle station. Our rainy day adventure is drawing to a close (much too soon). But one thing we are certain of is that the rains will return again in the future offering the next opportunity for a rainy day hike!