Unterpirkach - Hochstadel (ÖTK - Klettersteig Pirknerklamm)

Access to starting point:
From Ljubljana through Karawanks Tunnel and then on the highway to Spittal. We continue driving in the direction of Lienz, and drive through the valley Drautal to Oberdrauburg, where we turn left in the direction of Kötschach and mountain pass Plöckenpass. Immediately after the river Drau and railway track we turn right (by the crossroad we notice many signs, among them also for mountain hut Hochstadelhaus), and then on a little narrower road we reach Unterpirkach. Here only few 10 meters before the bigger chapel, which we notice on the right side, we turn left (here we already see first signs for climbing path) and on an asphalt road, we drive only 100 meters and then signs "OTK-Klettersteig Pirknerklamm" point us to the right on a macadam road, on which we quickly come on a parking lot.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue on a macadam road which past the house brings us into the forest. We continue on a forest path which runs on the left side of the stream Pirkner Bach. The path soon brings us to a crossing, where signs »Einstieg ÖTK Klettersteig« point us to the right downwards towards the stream where the climbing path starts.
Climbing path all the time runs by the stream and already at the beginning with the help of numerous iron spikes vertically ascends over the boulder. Further, the path crosses rocky slopes just above the stream and then brings us to steel cables on which we cross the stream on the right side. After a short crossing the path ascends vertically with the help of iron spikes and it brings us to the next bridge, which crosses the stream again on the left side. Above the bridge crossing of the vertical wall to the left follows and then a short ascent on the boulder on which there is an inscription box. Next follows an ascent over few boulders, and then we cross a short bridge, that runs just by the waterfall. This time as well the bridge is made of only two steel cables. One is intended for walking, other one for holding and self belaying. Further, we are climbing for some time from boulder to the boulder, after that gorge turns slightly to the left. Here we are ascending on a rocky slope on the left side of the stream and soon in front of us we notice a dam over which is falling a waterfall Regenbogen Wasserfall. With the help of iron spikes we ascend by the waterfall almost vertically upwards.
Above the waterfall riverbed of the stream becomes less steep and some walking by the stream follows. We then cross the stream to the right side and continue to walk by the stream. The path then brings us to the last climbing part, where at first we cross vertical rocky slope above the stream and then with the help of numerous stemples, we ascend right upward by the dam.
Here the climbing path ends and a hairpin ascent through the forest follows. At first, the path is still secured with a steel cable, after that on less a steep slope it brings us to a crossing. To the right leads the path back towards the starting point, and to the left leads the path towards the mountain hut Hochstadelhaus.
If we continue towards the mountain hut Hochstadelhaus then we are ascending on a narrow footpath through the forest and we soon join the normal path towards the mountain hut.
We continue on a well-beaten path, which higher crosses a road (road is closed for public traffic), and then it returns into the forest and past Hilda's smoking bench, again brings us to a forest road. We leave the road immediately, higher marked path again crosses the road few times, or it joins it for a short time. Higher the forest gets thinner, so we have a nice view towards the eastern side, where we clearly see river Drau and part of Gailtal Alps. The path higher returns on the road which we then follow all the way to the mountain hut Hochstadelhaus.
From the mountain hut, we continue slightly right (direction Hochstadel) and through a short lane of a forest we ascend on the mountain pasture Unholdenalm. Here we walk to the right side of the mountain pasture, where at some cottages we again step on the road. Next follows a short gentle ascent on an increasingly bad road, and then we get to a marked crossing.
We continue slightly right in the direction of "Hochstadel - path number 218, 3 h" and we continue the ascent on a moderately ascending path. The path which ahead runs over an ample grazing area, higher turns to the right and for a short time steeply ascends. The path soon turns to the left and almost entirely flattens. Next follows gently sloping diagonal ascent, that runs below the walls of 2283 meters high Rudnigkofel. When the crossing ends, the path turns right and in few hairpin turns ascends over steep and mainly in wet for slipping dangerous slopes. After a shorter steep ascent, we step on a panoramic ridge and the path here turns sharply to the left, where again flattens. Next follows a short crossing of exposed ridge and then the path passes on less steep slopes. Further, we are ascending on an increasingly panoramic path, and it leads through a series of smaller valleys. Higher, the path becomes a little steeper and a little below the summit on some spots also slightly exposed. This very panoramic path, which in the last part runs only few meters away from mighty precipice, we follow all the way to the top of Hochstadel.

On the way: Regenbogen Wasserfall (730m), Hochstadelhaus (1780m), Planina Unholdenalm (1800m)