Carnic Alps Attractions Karnische Alpen
The long straggling chain of the Carnic Alps which, halfway along the range, begins to increase in height and wildness from west to east, extends to the south of the Gail valley, its crest forming the frontier with Italy. Like the Gailtal Alps (Lienz Dolomites), it forms part of the Southern Alps. Although this region of varied mountain scenery has good roads and is well provided with mountain huts, it is still not overcrowded by holiday visitors. The least frequented part of the range is its western end - the area around the little Füllhornsee (Sillian), the Obstanser See (Kartitsch) and St Lorenzen in the Lesach valley.
Polüdnig and Oisternig
The gentler eastern part of the Carnic Alps also has much to offer climbers and skiers. Polüdnig (2,000m/6,560ft) is a particularly fine peak. Few of the better known skiing areas can offer such a fine long descent as the run from Oisternig (2,052m/6,733ft) down to Feistritz in the Gail valley. There is a good ridge walk, the Karnischer Höhenweg, from the Nassfeld to St Andrä in the Gallitz valley.
Carnic Mountain Path
Carnic mountain path offers the possibility for a walk (views) from Nassfeld eastwards as far as St Andrea in Gailitztal.
Mountains East of Plöcken Pass
There are many fine mountains east of the Plöcken pass, fairly easily reached from the Gail valley, among them the Gailtaler Polinik (2,331m/7,648ft), near Mauthen, the massive Trogkofel (2,279m/7,,477ft) and the jagged and botanically interesting Gartnerkofel (2,195m/7,202ft), the latter two accessible from the Sonnenalpe Nassfeld by way of the Nassfeld hut (1,513m/4,964ft), which is also much frequented by skiers.
Plöcken Pass
From the beautiful Plöcken pass (1,360m/4,462ft), which carries the steep road from Kötschach-Mauthen into Italy, fit and experienced walkers can follow the whole chain westward (numerous mountain huts) to the Helm (2,433m/7,983ft).
Wolayer See
The best-known part of the region lies around the Wolayer See, which contains the finest peaks in the whole group. This is where the massive dark peak of the Hohe Warte (2,780m/9,121ft), the highest point in the Carnic Alps, towers aloft, together with the austere Biegengebirge with its two great buttresses, the Wolayer Kopf (2,470m/8,104ft) and the Seekopf (2,554m/8,380ft), and the Kellerwand (2,769m/9,085ft), rearing its sheer ice-covered rock-faces above the Valentin valley. Most of these mountains, however, are for experienced climbers only.
