Tour planning made easy

Finding the right hiking boots is only half the job done for a carefree hike. The right hiking socks are another key factor. This is the only way to keep your feet dry and free of blisters, allowing you to enjoy your mountain experience to the full. A good pair of hiking socks is breathable, water-repellent, comfortable and aids the required sure-footedness in the hiking boots.

There is wide selection of hiking socks available. The two main categories are padded or non-padded. Depending on the time of year you plan to hike, you can then either opt for thicker or thinner socks (temperature-dependent). And then there is the selection of materials: cotton, virgin wool, synthetic fibres, mixed materials, etc.

Apart from the time of year, choosing which socks are right for you also depends on your hiking boots. Here you can also ask an expert or salesperson for advice. Important tips: The socks should fit at least as well as the hiking shoes themselves - and they should be wrinkle-free. And: Always take at least one pair of spare socks with you on your hike so that you always have dry feet!

Hiking in the mountains requires a high degree of endurance. It is therefore essential to drink sufficient amounts of fluids regularly. Food intake in the form of muesli bars, fruit or biscuits not only enhances concentration, but also prevents an early drop in energy levels due to low blood sugar.

Low-sugar, isotonic drinks are particularly suitable for drinking. Sweet drinks are not advisable as they only increase the thirst. Tap or spring water is also ideal for hiking. It is best to drink before you feel thirsty. You should drink small amounts regularly during the hike and not wait to drink a large amount at once. About 1-2 litres is ideal for a hiking tour. Carrying more than this may prove difficult. A little tip from the Kitzbühel Alps: At various points along the trail, you'll come across fresh mountain springs or streams with clear water. Provided the water looks clean, you can drink this water without hesitation. This is usually even cleaner than tap water in many regions of the world.

It's best to satisfy your carbohydrate requirements with muesli bars, dried fruit, fruit or whole grains. When hiking, it is important to take several small snack breaks rather than eating all at once. The first break should take place after about 2 hours. After that, every 1.5 - 2 hours. Replenishing your energy reserves with a snack prevents a drop in performance. Warning: Pure glucose is not recommended. This may give you enormous energy boost in the short term, however the subsequent drop in glucose is the faster and greater.

Please note: Make sure that you take all of your waste with you and dispose of it properly. This also applies to degradable natural products such as leftovers or pieces of bread. Nature and subsequent hikers will thank you!

Unlike the lowlands in Austria, the weather in the mountains can change completely within a matter of minutes. The different air pressure zones and smaller wind areas mean that one minute you can have blue sky and perfect weather, and just 10 minutes later gigantic storm clouds may begin to loom above you. For this reason, you should keep an eye on the latest mountain weather report for the region and adjust your tour schedule accordingly. Also bear in mind that thunderstorms in the mountains can be really uncomfortable and dangerous - especially if you are nowhere near shelter. Ask your hotel or accommodation provider or locals, for more information about the local weather. They are usually very knowledgeable and can give you a few tips.

In times of climate change, the mountains reveal one of their great advantages. While it is scorching hot in the lowlands of the country, with temperatures sometimes soaring well above 30 °C, it is usually pleasantly cool in the mountains. In general, the temperature drops by approx. 1 °C per 100 metre of elevation gain. So when it is a pleasant 25 °C in the valley (approx. 800 m above sea level), it may only be approx. 15 °C at an altitude of 1,800 m. If you are planning a tour to one of the higher peaks in the Kitzbühel Alps, the temperature at the summit in midsummer may only be 10-12 °C. You should therefore take weather-appropriate clothing in your backpack.

The Kitzbühel Alps are known for the relatively moderate altitude. Nevertheless, you should not forget that the mountains in the region range from 800 m to just over 2,400 m above sea level. It may well happen that you encounter snowfall above the tree line in mid- to late May, or find patches of old snow along the hiking trails. From the end of August, you will usually have to reckon with the possibility of snowfall, which may make it difficult to cross some alpine hiking trails for a short time. Heavy snowfall in the mountains does not start until the end of the year (November/December), but you should take this into account when planning your tour.

While you can estimate the time required to complete your hike, planning the walking time down to the minute is not possible. There are many factors that may affect the duration of the hike: uphill speed, walking strides and general pace tend to vary greatly. Physical condition, hiker experience and state of mind on a given day also influence the finish time. Another decisive factor is group size. The larger the group, the longer you should plan for your mountain tour.

A proven calculation model shows that you can do an average of 300 vertical metres per hour. On horizontal terrain, you can cover 4 km per hour. Calculate the value for the trail length and for the vertical metres separately. Halve the smaller value of the two walking times and then add both values. This will give you the estimated walking time of your hike.

For example: For a moderate trail with around 1,200 vertical metres (= approx. 4 hours walking time). The distance is 8 km, which corresponds to an approximate walking time of 2 hours. (This value being the smaller value is now halved = 1 hour). The sum of the two walking times is 4 hours + 1 hour = 5 hours walking time in total.