ALPINE ECOLOGY TRAIL

Topic: MOUNTAIN ANIMALS 

1. Introduction to mountain animals
2. white grouse and mountain hare
3. Alpine invertebrates
4. rock climbers: chamois and ibex
5. hunters and the huntes: eagle - marmot
6. grouse: wood grouse and black grouse
7. hunt in Sölden
8. hunter and the hunted: fox - badger
9. forest climber: woodpeckers and others
10. forest insects and the dynamism of mountain forests
11. small birds in mountain forests

ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
Distance: 4,6 km (6,2 km to Sölden)
Altitude gain: 520 m (800 m to Sölden)
Walking time: 2 - 2,5 h

The "Mountain Animal" trail leads from the mid station down to the base station of the Gaislachkogl gondola (2170 m - 1377 m). At first the trail travels above the tree line for about 1.5 km, winding its way trough scree, Alpine rose bushes and dwarf shrubs, and later meadows and pasturelands. The trail then descends moderately trough a sparse forest down to Gaislachalm mountain hut (1968 m) and on trough pasturelands and clearings to a sub-alpine forest.
The forest trail back to Sölden varies in grade. The upper and steeper party of the track leads trough a pine, spruce and larch forest rich in lichens and calamity wood (dead wood). The path then winds its way trough a pine larch forest with a more acidic soil. The last interpretive panels are located at approx. 1650 m. The trail continues trough open strips, commercial forest land, and, finally manmade landscapes down to the base station, the head of the theme trail.

Topic: ENVIRONMENTAL SYMBIOSES

1. Introduction: men and Alpine environment
2. The higher the sturdier (1)
3. The higher the sturdier (2)
4. Water pipits: mohicans of the heaths
5. Ecology of eriaceae shrubs
6. The Ötztal glaciers
7. Snow valleys and snow drifts
8. Ecology of the timerline vegetation
9. Ski slopes and greenery
10. Lichens - born survivors of extreme environment
11. Forms of growth: Small is beautiful, round is healthy
12. adaption to UV rays

ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
Distance: 5,5 km
Altitude gain: 70 m
Walking time: 1,5 bis 2 h


The trail starts in Hochsölden (2100 m) and travels above today's tree line along a south-eastern slope to Rettenbachalm mountain hut (2145 m). After crossing a brook, the trail climbs gently along the northern ridge of Gaislachkogl mountain passing trough scree, Alpine rose bushes and a sparse pine forest before ending at the mid station of Gaislachkogl gondola (2170 m).
The main part of the trail is along the natural timerline, i.e. the transition zone between sub-alpine forest regions and sub-alpine dwarf shrub heaths, which both form an important component of the high alpine ecosystem.