Draßnitz - Hochleitenk

Access to starting point:
From Spittal we drive towards Lienz or vice versa, but only to the village Dellach. In the middle of the village we notice signs that direct us to the right (from the direction of Spittal, from Lienz left) in the direction of Oberdraßnitzer Alm. Along the ascending road at the crossroads we follow the mentioned direction and drive along it to the barrier (approx. 1300 m), beyond which further driving is also forbidden.

Route description:
From the barrier we continue on the road which after two successive sharp turns quickly brings us to a junction of two roads. We continue on the left road in the direction of the mountain pasture Untere Draßnitzalm. The road, which still ascends through the forest for some time, soon brings us to a nice vantage point, from which a nice view opens up on two alpine waterfalls.
From the vantage point we continue on the road which higher over a bridge crosses one of the two waterfalls. Soon after the waterfall the road brings us out of the forest onto the mountain pasture Unterdraßnitzer Alm.
From the mountain pasture we continue on the right path in the direction of the summit Hochkreuz. The path goes immediately after the mountain pasture into the forest and moderately ascends on a cart track. After a few minutes we approach the stream, which we then cross over the bridge. On the other side of the stream the path steeply ascends and brings us among bushes onto unvegetated swampy slopes. From here onwards the otherwise marked path disappears. For continuing we have two options. We can continue on the marked pathless terrain (somewhat to the right) or ascend along the stream upwards (slightly left). The latter is, despite being unmarked, orientationally easier. Both "paths" join at an altitude of approximately 2200 m (we recognize this place by the high mountain cirque). From here onwards in both cases we continue sharply left and follow the very rare markings, which we occasionally see on one of the larger rocks. After a few minutes of crossing, which we do in a moderate ascent, we again start turning somewhat to the right. If we are lucky the "path" brings us right to the lake.
From the lake we continue slightly left and after 15 minutes of ascent on easier pathless terrain we step onto Hochleitenk.
PS: Orientation on the path is difficult, therefore set out on the path only in nice weather.

Along the route: Unterdraßnitzer Alm (1673m), Eckensee (2481m)

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