Recommendations from Peter Freiberger
Six panoramic hikes
Why do people go into the mountains? To be sure, everyone has their own personal reasons for lacing up their hiking boots and ascending to picturesque places.
Peter Freiberger talks about panoramic hikes: For me, hiking is a form of meditation. Step by step, I become more relaxed as I immerse myself in another world and enjoy the freedom.
The mountains of Vorarlberg are associated with fantastic panoramic views. However, one need not reach the peak in order to truly appreciate the scenery. For example, mountain huts are often easier to reach. They offer spectacular vantage points from which to enjoy panoramic views. Over and over from atop a mountain, I enjoy watching people try to name each peak and valley in every direction. They are fascinated by the wide-ranging views.
I feel exactly the same.
I have selected six panoramic hikes for you that are at the top of my personal list. I really enjoy the Mondspitze and the Schillerkopf for their gentle and rugged landscapes as well as the Alpine character of these tours during different segments. I have never gotten closer to ibex than on the Kanisfluh massif, which also features incredible downward views. Sitting in the rustic atmosphere of the Saarbrücker Hütte mountain hut, I feel a true sense of security and peace, especially as I look to the mighty glacier below the Großes Seehorn. Next to the Kaltenberghütte mountain hut, one can practically bathe in the scenery reflected in the small mountain lake. As a Tyrolean, I enjoy the contrast between the mountains and Lake Constance from the Pfänder. Finally, the view from the ridge of the Fellhorn mountain over the expanse of the Kleinwalsertal is an unforgettable experience (Attention: this hike is not possible in summer 2020 – Söllereck cable car is not operating!).
For me, hiking is a form of meditation. Step by step, I become more relaxed as I immerse myself in another world and enjoy the freedom.
The huts, Alpine pastures and peaks around Schoppernau were my first connection to the Vorarlberg mountain world. These days, I feel particularly at home in the Rätikon near Lake Lünersee and the Schesaplana and Mottakopf mountains. East of the Arlberg, I can’t hide my preference for the Pitztal and Ötztal valleys. In summer 2017, I can’t wait to ascend my local mountain, the Hohe Munde by Telfs, once more.
I can’t help but visit the Jeitner family at the Schweinfurter Hütte mountain hut in Ötztal. I also can’t wait to finally visit the close-by Mannheimer Hütte mountain hut or to ascend the Piz Buin for another feather in my cap.
When I’m on panoramic hikes, I can enjoy Vorarlberg from above.
Fact sheet
Peter Freiberger, born 1965 in Innsbruck. Studied to be a journalist and worked for 14 years as an editor at the Tiroler Tageszeitung. He then worked an additional 10 years as a mountain journalist and author. For years, he has been documenting family hiking tips for the Tiroler Tageszeitung. He has also authored numerous books (among other the bestseller “Die schönsten Familienwanderungen Tirols”) and made contributions to countless German-speaking mountain magazines (e.g. “Bergsteiger,” “Land der Berge”). He has also researched the Adlerweg trail, Tyrol’s #1 long-distance trail on behalf of Tirol Werbung. He is a father of a 19-year-old daughter, who gladly accompanies him on numerous tours. Today, he lives in Tyrol (Oberhofen in Oberinntal) or Vorarlberg and he works at the press office for the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in Vorarlberg, where he contributes to the “Thema Vorarlberg” magazine providing monthly hiking tips.
