Volkzeinalm - Hochalmspitze (Villgraten)

Access to starting point:
Through the Karawanks Tunnel, we drive to Austria, and then we continue driving towards Spittal and forward towards Lienz (a little after Spittal highway ends). Further, we drive on a relatively nice and wide road through Drau valley. In the center of Lienz, in main roundabout we continue »left« and we continue driving towards Italy (exit from the roundabout in the direction of village Leisach, Anras and Silian). In the village Heinfels (village is located right next to the village Silian) we will notice signs for valley Villgratental, which point us to the right on an ascending road. A little higher in the village Außervillgraten we continue right in the direction of village Winkeltal. The mentioned road which higher loses an asphalt covering we then follow to the parking lot at the end of the road (road continues only to the nearby mountain hut).

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue on the road, on which in 2 minutes we ascend to the mountain hut Volkzeinerhütte.
The marked path mentioned mountain hut bypasses on the right side and then it ascends over at first gentle grassy slope. We soon come at the marked crossing, where we continue right in the direction of »Hochalmspitze and Leisacher Alm (left Gsaritzer Törl).
The path ahead crosses a torrent stream and then starts ascending diagonally over a steeper and steeper slopes. The path which runs through a thin forest then on a slightly exposed slope descends in other gully, and then it starts ascending steeper. The path ahead quickly passes on grassy slopes, where it turns a little towards the left. Further, we are ascending on a scenic path, by which we can observe numerous alpine flowers. The path then gets closer to the stream, higher crosses it and then flattens. Next follows only few minutes of easy walking and the path brings us to a scenic mountain pasture Leisacher Alm, on which we notice a bigger shepherd hut.
From the mountain pasture, we continue on a little poorly visible path, which is further ascending slightly towards the left. After few minutes of the ascent, the path turns more to the left and then crosses shorter rocky slope, after which we come in the area of smaller springs. Further, even less visible, but well-marked path runs over an extensive grassy slopes and gradually gets closer to a saddle, to which we have a little steeper short ascent.
When we step on a saddle Kleinitzer Lenke (2614 meters) a beautiful view opens up on the highest peaks of High Tauern, and we continue right on a steep ridge. The path ahead steeply ascends on the mentioned ridge, which is full of granite plates (some of them are swaying quite a lot). Higher, the steepness decreases a little and the path brings us by the edge of grazing fence. After few minutes, the path avoids the fence a little towards the left and then continues on more scenic ridge. This pleasant ridge path, which in dry does not pose a greater risk (on the ridge be careful that we don't get caught by a storm) we follow all the way to the peak, which we reach after few minutes of additional walking.

On the way: Volkzeinerhütte (1890m), Leisacher Alm (2350m), Kleinitzer Lenke (2614m)