When you're spontaneously asked to name your favourite trail, your mind starts racing to the furthest corners of your brain. There are so many beautiful trails, how are you supposed to decide? At some point, the fog of thought clears, the picture becomes clearer and then a real super trail remains in front of my inner eye: the Seejöchl Trail in the Stubai Alps.
I'm surprised myself that I can think of exactly this tour. It's easily ten years since I rode the trail, and since then I've experienced countless picture-book trails. So how impressive must the descent down into the Stubai Valley have been if it is so etched in my memory? Together with my best friend, I set off on a revival trip.
We start in Pafnitz near Axams, at an altitude of around 900 metres. From there, the route winds through fields until it reaches a gravel ramp. We have to get up there. I remember how I struggled up here ten years ago - with my 17-kilo trail bike, armoured jacket and full-face helmet. Today it's a quick climb, and at the entrance to the Sender Valley the gradient eases off again anyway. We follow the Sendersbach uphill for a good hour. Then the spruce forest finally thins out - and there they are: the Kalkkögel. Fifteen pointed rock teeth, lined up in a row. Visually, they could be mistaken for the Geisler peaks, which has already earned them the title "North Tyrolean Dolomites". Let's continue: Behind the Kemater Alm, the gravel road leads vertically up to the Adolf Pichler Hut. These 330 metres in altitude really hurt, even with today's equipment, and I have no idea how I managed it pedalling back then. Finally arriving at the hut, at an altitude of 1977 metres, all I know is that I need a bacon dumpling soup right now ...
After the refreshment stop, the scenic part of the tour begins: just below the bizarre rock towers, riding and pushing passages cheerfully go hand in hand. Until at some point you realise that it makes the most sense to simply carry your bike. This way you can also keep an eye on the highest point of the tour: the Seejöchl, the notch between Schlicker Seespitz and Gamskogl. The crossing is at an altitude of 2518 metres, and a very difficult-looking gravel road leads up there. At some point, we have also managed this step, throw the bike off our shoulders and are rewarded with a tremendous view of the Stubai Valley, the Habicht and the Hoher Freiger.
And then it's finally time to go. Put on your knee pads and enjoy the ride! The narrow, gravelled path immediately tempts you to have a playful ride. A few small bumps add to the fun - then a short stretch of road piles up in front of us to the next ridge. Once at the top, the ride is less playful. A few really crisp, crumbly sections await us, which leave absolutely no room for riding errors. The descent is relatively easy overall, but when it gets technical and dangerous, it gets really technical.
After the crumbling and some extremely tight, steep hairpin bends, you immediately get back into flowing riding fun. Although the hairpin bends remain sharp, they are now adrenaline-free. At the Starkenburger Hütte, we treat ourselves to a coffee with a crystal-clear view of the Serles before continuing our ride. The loose rock is soon followed by forest floor, but the relatively steep hairpin bends continue to accompany us. Mountain pine roots now have to be negotiated. We fly past golden yellow-coloured larches for what feels like an eternity until we reach the tarred road. We roll down the last few metres of altitude into the valley. There's just one thing missing for a happy day of touring back home: a well-earned beer in the little shop in the village. Now I remember why this trail left such a lasting impression.
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