Lechloop 0: Between Source and Karst – through the Steinernes Meer

Decelerated, easy hike through great landscapes in the Arlberg The starting point is the parking lot at the Formarinalpe. To get here, you have to enter the toll road at the barrier before 8:00 a.m. and come out again at 4:30 p.m. Accordingly, you have a lot of time here. Alternatively, you can also get here by bus, which runs regularly from Lech. (Bus 22€ person, toll for your own car 20€) The hike first went along the picturesque Formarinsee to the Freiburger Hütte. Here we had a small breakfast (not least because, contrary to reports, it was still raining in the morning). The clouds soon cleared, the sky opened up and off we went straight to the unproblematic summit of the Formaletsch. A vantage point not to be missed! We continue down to the "Steinernes Meer" - a geologically fascinating karst landscape with many rare plants. You mustn't step aside here, as the rocks are all very sharp-edged and some of the eroded crevices are several meters deep. Around the "sea" it then goes leisurely back to the starting point at the parking lot. And because we were still too happy to be able to drive back, we went straight around the Formarinsee again.

On Friday evening the rain turned into sleet and we experienced the first onset of winter. But that doesn't stop the DAV hiker from going for a ride. We trudge through more than 10cm of snow to the Steinernes Meer, which challenges us with its treacherous crevices between the rock formations. We return via the Formarinalpe and spend the rest of the afternoon in the cozy hut. The sky is clearing and we can hope to see the sun on graduation day - we are excited!

Great tour over the Steinernes Meer. Since only a toll road leads to Formarinsee, it is rather quiet there. But the 24€ for the ticket from Lech is worth it

We took the bus to the starting point of the hike. The tour itself is stunning in terms of landscape, but we skipped the Freiburg hut - it was completely overcrowded. But we saw a herd of ibex on the steep slopes - a special highlight! Watch out for the stone sea - because of the many crevices, surefootedness is required, otherwise a nice tour 🙂

Today I drove to the starting point of my last year's Lechweg (https://www.komoot.de/collection/1316523/-der-lechweg-von-der-quelle-bis-zum-fall) with my ladies. There then visited the Formarinsee, the Freiburger Hütte and the Steinerne Meer. Also very impressive on the second visit. The view of the Formarinsee in the direction of the "Red Wall" is particularly impressive every time. The Formarinsee had significantly less water today than last September... the cows around it didn't bother much, because they continued to drink from it... The climb through the Steinernes Meer was a great climbing experience, especially for my little ones. All in all, very happy to have shared this great place with my family as well…. and finally, in addition to horses in the wild, we were even able to marvel at a marmot live... So everything was fine again... Let's see what's to come in the next few days....

Today's tour was again special: we took the bus to the Formarinsee stop. We then hiked in the opposite direction to the stone sea. This is a large karst area with interesting rock shapes. The path went across the stones and you had to be very careful where you put your feet. The stones were totally impressive. Then it went slowly downhill before the view of the Formarinsee and the red wall opens. The lake shimmered in different shades of blue and turquoise and after every curve it looked different. Unfortunately, the Freiburger hut, which has a great view over the lake, was already closed. So it went relaxed on a gravel road to the bus stop. We had hoped to spot ibex in this landscape, but we only stayed with the iron ibex in front of the Freiburg hut.

Very easy tour, also possible with children. From the Freiburger Hütte (the summit is not marked) in approx. 1 hour 15 minutes to the summit cross. It is possible to hike around the mountain by crossing the Steinernes Meer with the aim of the bus parking lot at Formarinsee. Duration approx. 2 hours from the summit.

Today four tours with different levels of difficulty are offered. Unfortunately, because of the knee, I can't do what I would like to do. So I decide to go for the shortest option because of the circumstances. We start hiking from the Freiburger Hütte. Soon we come to the themed path known as the "Steinernes Meer". This rises gently over meadows. Marmot sounds can be heard and seen again and again. A wide variety of flowers can be seen on the wide meadows. The flowers are just beautiful! A part of the troupe still makes the detour/ascent to the Formaletsch - I don't do it because of my knee problem. Since the summit is in clouds, I didn't even miss too much with it. Immediately after the others started to descend the summit, the clouds cleared. Too bad for my hiking companions, who were denied the all-round view. I continue with a small group along the earthy path interspersed with stones that leads up to the Steinernes Meer. Then before us lies a petrified sea with fossils millions of years old. Unfortunately, the places where you can find special fossils are no longer marked. However, the scenery is fantastic and very impressive. The Steinernes Meer is an alpine karst plateau on the Formaletsch (2,292 m) and is around two kilometers east of Lake Formarin. In the Steinernes Meer there are often fossilized coral sticks, mussel shells, tower snails, ammonites and belemnites, which also gave the Steinernes Meer its name. The Rhine-Danube watershed (European continental watershed) runs directly in and under this karst plateau. We pass the Steinernes Meer on its southern and eastern edge. You can't get lost because there are so many waymarks on the rocks. However, concentrated walking is required. It is an impressive and indescribably beautiful area! It blooms everywhere between the rocks. At the fork towards Ravensburger Hütte and Formarinsee we want to wait for the others who went up to the Formaletsch and come to us on the same way. I use the time and walk around comfortably in the area between the stone blocks and am totally fascinated by the variety of flowers. It's awesome! The view is also great, because the clouds have disappeared in the meantime and the weather is beautiful. After a long break, we continue together again on beautiful paths. Again and again a marmot greets us, and there is also a frog, but no one wants to kiss it. Who knows what we might have missed ;-) We pass the striking ibex monument. It is a thank you to local hunters for reintroducing ibex to the area. We make a stop at the Formarin-Alpe. It's the first day open today. After a leisurely break, we make our way back to the Freiburger Hütte via the very beautiful Felsensteig, which runs to the left above Lake Formarin. When the sun shines, it glows wonderfully green. The Formarinsee is a high mountain lake and forms anew every year from meltwater. Its outflow runs underground, under the Rote Wand (2,704m), the most prominent peak in the Lechquellgebirge. And before we know it, we are at the Freiburger Hütte and are making ourselves comfortable on the sun terrace. The round was very nice! I don't feel like I missed anything because I originally wanted to do something else. On the contrary, one thing is certain for me: when you are at the Freiburger Hütte, a hike across the Steinernes Meer is almost a MUST. In the evening we welcome the mountain summer at a party with a big bonfire. What a beautiful day that was! Mountains, pastures, nature and meadows and in the evening the midsummer bonfire including singing together: What more does the soul need to enjoy?!