Mountain Cheese & Alpine Roses: A journey of discovery in the Wattener Lizum
I recently went on a lovely walk in a very unspoilt part of our region, which I naturally don’t want to keep from you.
The walk starts at the Lager Walchen car park. Following the Lizumer Zirbenweg (also known as the Zirmweg; not to be confused with the Zirbenweg on the Glungezer), the route heads into the valley along forest tracks and paths until you reach the Lizumer Hütte. Following the Lizum stream, this relatively easy mountain walk takes you across beautiful alpine meadows and through an impressive Swiss stone pine forest.
The walk starts at the Lager Walchen car park. Following the Lizumer Zirbenweg (also known as the Zirmweg; not to be confused with the Zirbenweg on the Glungezer), the route heads into the valley along forest tracks and paths until you reach the Lizumer Hütte. Following the Lizum stream, this relatively easy mountain walk takes you across beautiful alpine meadows and through an impressive Swiss stone pine forest.
Impressed by the natural surroundings and a breathtaking panorama – in particular Swiss stone pines and, when the alpine roses are in bloom, alpine roses too, characterise the landscape of Wattener Lizum.
A tasty cheese from the alpine pasture
Just before the Lizumer Hütte, amongst alpine huts and Swiss stone pines, you’ll find the Lizum alpine cheese dairy, which offers ‘Lizumer Almkas’ and ‘Lizumer Kasermandl’ (Tilsiter) in a self-service fridge. The cheese can be bought either directly from the dairy or from wholesalers. Speaking from personal experience, I can say that it tastes considerably better, however, if you’ve ‘hiked’ to the cheese’s source yourself.
Cows graze around the cheese dairy, clearly enjoying their summer retreat on the alpine pasture. Depending on the weather, the animals spend around four months a year on the alpine pastures. The thought that the cheese you’ve bought was made from these cows’ milk makes it taste even better than it already does.
From the alpine cheese dairy, it’s just a few metres to the destination, the Lizumer Hütte. After a leisurely 2¼-hour walk along the Lizumer Zirbenweg, you can enjoy a breathtaking view from the terrace of the surrounding peaks of the Tux Alps.
Fresh mountain air, lush green meadows, alpine roses in shades of red and pink, and the sound of cowbells quickly make you forget the exertions of the climb.
Refreshed and re-energised, we head back along the Zirbenweg (the same route) to the Lager Walchen car park. For walkers who only wish to walk in one direction, there is a mountain hut shuttle (shuttle service). A wonderful experience!
GOOD TO KNOW:
?Please note the shooting times at the Lizum military training area/Walchen
?New: Since summer 2016, you can go hiking to see the crystals in the Hall-Wattens region; one route leads to Lizum in Wattens
?Free walking map of the Hall-Wattens region
?Further walks in and through the Wattener Lizum