Draßnitz - Hochkreuz (via Oberdraßnitzer Alm)

Access to starting point:
From Spittal we drive towards Lienz or vice versa, but only to a village Dellach. In the middle of the village we notice signs, which point us to the right (from the direction Spittal, from Lienz left) in the direction of Oberdraßnitzer Alm. At the crossroads, we follow the ascending road in the mentioned direction and there we drive to a gate (approx 1300m) from which ahead also further driving is forbidden.

Path description:
From the gate we continue on the road which after two successive sharp turns quickly brings us to a crossroad of two roads. We continue on the right bottom road in the direction of the mountain pasture Obere Draßnitzalm. The slightly ascending road then past a cross brings us to the next poorly marked crossing, where we continue on the left side of the stream on a wide cart track (ascent possible also on the road). Cart track then past cultural monument and higher over a grazing fence brings us to the bottom part of the mountain pasture. Through the mountain pasture leads nice panoramic path, which in few minutes brings us to the cottages on the mountain pasture.
From the mountain pasture, we continue on the left side of the stream for approximately 15 minutes after that over a small wooden bridge we cross a scenic stream. The path then for a short time avoids the stream and goes into larch forest after which we get to a smaller wooden cottage. Further, the last trees are slowly vanishing and the path for a short time again gets closer to the stream on which we can admire numerous rapids and smaller waterfalls. Poorly visible, but marked path again avoids the stream to the right and again gets closer to it only a little before we step on a high mountain plain, where we notice a smaller wooden cottage (emergency bivouac). Further, we are ascending on a swampy terrain by the edge of the valley, that starts turning to the left. The increasingly panoramic path with the help of the blazes brings us to the next crossing, where we continue left in the direction of Hochkreuz (right Feldnerhütte). The path ahead crosses a high mountain plateau and after few minutes brings us below the upper slope of Hochkreuz. Further, the path starts ascending steeper on a more and more rocky slope, which is covered with snow until the late summer. After a half an hour ascent, the path brings us on a ridge, where we continue right. Follows only 10 minutes of walking on panoramic not very steep ridge (in snow and ice dangerous for slipping, but snowless the path is easy).

On the way: Tonelekammer (1563m), Oberdraßnitzer Alm (1670m)