Tirol's New 280km`Eagle Walk' And New Routes And Services For Cyclists

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

VIENNA, Austria, June 7, 2005. New for 2005 is a 31 stage, 280km walk across Austria's stunning Tirol province, the `Adlerweg' (Eagle Walk), while a new extension to the 320km long Tirol Vital Route, the Tirol's longest mountain biking route and the launch of a service for cyclists, to transport luggage, organise laundry, book hotels and transfer bikes and passengers add to the Tirol's appeal for active travellers. Visit www.bike.tirol.at and www.hiking.tirol.at or read on.

Free as a bird

Lending a whole new meaning to `free as a bird', a new 280km, 31 stage walk, exploring the heights and the depths of the beautiful Austrian province of the Tirol has been way-marked for 2005, stretching from St. Johann in the Wilder Kaiser mountains, via the Karwendel Mountains, up to St. Anton and into the Lech Valley.

The freedom of the mountains

Known as the `Adlerweg', (literally `path of the eagle'), the new fully mapped walk forms the shape of an eagle in flight, traversing the entire province from east to west, taking in mountain highs, steep gorges, ice caverns, pretty traditional villages, cool woodland, flower-filled meadows and stunning, natural river valleys; the eagle's great wings tracing the route, its `head' dipping as the footpaths pass through the capital, Innsbruck.

The eagle has long been a native species of the Tirol, it can be seen on the rock faces of the eastern Alps and is featured on the province's armorial bearings. The exhilaration of walking the Adlerweg represents the freedom of the eagle and a pictogram of the bird in flight, tracing the walking route with its wings, is incorporated in the yellow route-boards that supplement red/white/red ground markings.

A gentle stroll ... or a challenging mountain hike

Walking terrain along the Adlerweg is graded according to the level of difficulty, giving the choice to enjoy leisurely walking on hiking paths through woodland and villages, or more challenging stretches where basic mountain equipment and a head for heights are essential.

31 sections, 280km and a life-time of memories

Each of the 31 sections of the Adlerweg takes up to 7 hours to complete and has been drawn up by Tirolean walking experts, with lateral entry and exit paths allowing walkers to enjoy just a few kilometres, or spend a day walking the full section, earning themselves an eagle's feather for each completed section and the chance to come back another day, to earn more feathers in the cap.

A new discovery each step of the way

The experience of walking of the Adlerweg is about far than simply traversing the stunningly scenic and beautifully peaceful province of the Austrian Tirol, Austria's southerly province. Each section of the route is well documented and accompanied by a detailed description of its historic and natural features, with brochures and information available from local tourist offices, listed at www.adlerweg.tirol.at, while an Adlerweg walking map can be obtained from Austria bookshops or online at www.tirolshop.com.

Walking amenities in the Tirol region are virtually inexhaustible, with around 15,000 kilometres of mountain tracks and footpaths stretching through the mountains like an intricate spider's web. The Adlerweg is the latest route marked walk to be added to an already rich and diverse choice of walks which can be undertaken between June and September each year, when the snows give way to lush green countryside and dramatic, craggy outcrops of sheer rock face.

Food and a bed on the march

Mountain huts provide food-stops en-route at very reasonable costs, avoiding the need to carry heavy stocks in rucksacks and providing welcome and hospitable stopping points. For those taking in several sections in one stretch, simple overnight accommodation can be provided in huts, while members of the Alpine Mountain Club (www.alperverein.at - unfortunately only in German) have a guarantee of accommodation on the day of arrival, making membership a worthwhile consideration.

So, next time you fancy lungfuls of fresh mountain air, dramatic scenery as far as they eye can see and the feeling of being on top of the world, spread your wings a little and take on the `eagle'. Whether you gain the full 31-section `monarch of the mountains' accolade, a few exhilarating hours of freedom, or just a feather in your cap, each section is an unforgettable experience and provides a lifetime of memories.