From the
top station of the Krippenstein funicular we climb down to the Däumelsee, the
only "real" lake on the karst plateau. Then we cross the heavily
karstified area and head straight for the Däumelkogel, which guards the north
edge of the plateau like a gatekeeper.
We follow
the footpath to a rock belt, which we overcome in a short climb. A few minutes
later we reach the summit marked by a cross and offering beautiful views. Back
on the plateau, the footpath leads us through the richly shaped karst
landscape, where we meet caves, sinkholes, karst lanes and ancient mountain pastures.
Numerous protected alpine plants delight our eyes. With a bit of luck, chamois
will cross our way.
At the
Heilbronner Kreuz we enjoy the view of the surrounding peaks and our snack we
brought with us. The square commemorates the tragic accident of 1954, when
a group of students and their three teachers got lost and froze to death in a
snowstorm. Finally, it goes back to the starting point very comfortably.
