A beautiful panorama tour across the Aschtalm, Pfinnhütten, Pfinnscharte and Hoher Mann

Starting point: Head of the valley in St. Magdalena in the Gsieser Valley 1465 m
Descent: back via the ascent route
Hiking time: ca. 3 ½ hours
Level of difficulty: easy ski mountain that requires some endurance
Altitude difference: 1100 m
Slope exposure: south + east

 Coming from Innsbruck/Brennero (A): Drive on the Highway of Brennero (A22) until the exit Bressanone/Val Pusteria, then go on along the SS49-E66 for about 58kms until you arrive in Monguelfo. To get to Tesido and the Val Casies Valley, we recommend to take the exit West in Monguelfo. Coming from Lienz (A): You can reach us also padding by Lienz in Westtyrol (A). You have to cross the Austrian-Italian border between Ahrnbach and Winnebach (B100-E66) and drive on the SS46-E66 until Monguelfo. To get to Tesido and the Val Casies, we recommend to take the exit West in Monguelfo.

From the head of the valley in St. Magdalena in the Gsieser Valley 1465 m, follow the piste uphill on its edge to the alpine path number 10 “Ascht”. Now continue on a wide forest road through the woods covered in deep snow all the way to the Aschtalm at 1950 m (rest point). Then proceed westwards on the alpine path to the Pfinnalm at 2152 m and to the Pfinnscharte (notch) at 2395 m. Please consider the avalanche risk: only descend the slope if the covering of snow is stable! In another 30 minutes reach the Hoher Mann at 2539 m, over the steep ridge. The impressive panoramic view rewards your efforts. Now look forward to a fantastic downhill run! As the touring map explains, you can also climb on the orographic left side of the stream from the Aschtalm, traverse clear mountain woods and wide alpine terrain and hike past many hay barns of the Pfinnalm towards Hoher Mann. At the notch, at an altitude of 2499 m, keep left and climb the Hoher Mann over the “Nord Grat” (northern ridge). Snowshoe hikers: As explained previously, keep to the forest path number 10 all the way to the Pfinnalm 2152 m. From there, reach the Pfinnscharte (notch) at 2359 m in just 45 minutes by climbing up steeply along the basin of the valley.