Stage 7: The Sepp Jöchler Trail

Darmstädter Hütte – Kartellspeicher – Sessladjöchli – Niederelbehütte

Starting from the Darmstädter Hütte lodge, the hiking trail descends into the Moostal valley. After a short walk, you are rewarded with impressive views of the Kartell reservoir on the descent. Once you reach the shimmering blue reservoir, the trail continues along the shore in the direction of the Kartellhütte. Shortly after crossing the Kartellbach stream, the Sepp Jöchler Trail branches off. This leads over the Saum up the mountain side to the Seßladjöchli at 2,749 metres. Between the rugged peaks of the Seßladspitze at 2,906 m and the Ruggelkopf at 2,864 m, you cross the ridge and begin the descent to the stage finish. The first part of the descent on the Sepp Jöchler Trail is steep and has a great incline. You then continue over scree and a few small snow fields down to the mountain lodge. From the first green mountain meadows, the path becomes easier. The final highlight of this stage is the circuit around the picturesque Seßsee lake, from where it is only a short distance to the finish at Niederelbehütte lodge.

Alpine variant: From the Darmstädter lodge via the Advokatenweg to Schneidjöchli at 2,841 metres. Continue on the Hoppe-Seyler Trail into the Vergrößkar, via a narrow path in the direction of Fatlarspitze to the Kieler Wetterhütte at 2,800 metres. From the hut, a challenging, marked path leads down to the Niederelbehütte.