Klomnock - Mallnock circuit hike
Schiestlscharte - Klomnock - Mallnock - Refuge Hut - Hoher Steig - Schiestlscharte| Walking time |
3,5 hours |
| Altitude difference |
550 metres |
| Difficulty | medium |
| Hiking map |
Freytag & Berndt 221 (Nockalm Road) |
One of the highest points on the 35-kilometre Nockalm Road is the Schiestlscharte at just over 2,000 metres. An impressive sound and slide show and an exciting exhibition provide a great deal of background information about the unique natural history in the Nockbergs National Park.
One of them is the Zunderwand, and it is to be found not far from our hiking destinations, the Klomnock and the Mallnock. Although the geological basis of the Nockbergs is mainly varieties of crystalline rock, such as mica slate, paragneiss and quartz phyllite, which are over 600 million years old, a three-kilometre Mesozoic limestone- and dolomite range (Stangalm Triassic) appears in the east. The north-south course of this geological "stray" is to be easily recognised by its light-coloured rock. These karst appearances are to be easily seen on the Grünleitennock, on the Eisentalhöhe and also on the Zunderwand. The rainwater and smelt water that seeps into them later appears above ground further south in the Kleinkirchheim Valley, and can provide the 36 to 38°C thermal water to give the final beneficial touch after a long and marvellous day of hiking.
But before one finally hikes on the Klomnock, the short detour to the Wishing Bell on the Schiestlscharte is worthwhile. A few metres above the Glocken Hut, one is reminded of a Carinthian dairy maid who could no longer stand the endlessly jinxed bad weather and therefore hung a consecrated bell on a fence. Since then no weather witch has trusted herself to cross the Schiestlscharte. The annual precipitation of 1,100 millimetres in the centre of the Nockbergs is actually very slight. But this is not due to a bell, but to the high groups of mountains in the west, north and also the south that ward off most of the precipitation. Nevertheless, some hikers have been happy to hear the comforting sound of the weather bell when disorientated on foggy days.
The Route
The starting point of the hike on the Klomnock is the Schistlscharte parking area. From here one first hikes on the "Hohen Steig" (trail 15) in the basin to the west. The trail then leads slightly uphill onto the crest, which ends in a southern direction - finally somewhat airier - over the pre-summit on the Klomnock at 2,331 metres. Those who are satisfied with a walking time of one hour, or 300 metres altitude difference, it is recommended to descend to the pre-summit and from there descend on the east side (on the right) back to the starting point.But a wonderful further hike is offered from the Klomnock to the Mallnock to the west. With endless views, in one hour this crest trail leads with a slight opposing climb to the summit at 2,226 metres. Two kilometres further to the west, as the crow flies, is the geologically interesting Zunderwand.
The descent then follows to a refuge hut on trail 161 and turns off to the right on the Hohen Steig (15). Pleasantly adapted to the terrain, the trail leads over a short opposing climb (100 altitude metres) on the north-west side of the Klomnock and back to the Schiestlscharte.
At the Grundalm, which is 300 altitude metres lower, one of two hotels with 3,000 beds was almost built and artificially inserted into the landscape in the 1970s. A connecting road was also planned over the idyllic Oswald Bock Saddle on which the Hohe Steig passes a little higher up. Landscape- and nature conservationists were happily able to prevent the gigantic plans for opening up the area. The Klomnock has remained a peaceful vantage-point mountain, and at the Grundalm, one can acquire information of the importance of mountain forests in a permanent exhibition instead of après-ski and alpine-hut frolics.
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