The Adlerweg network is marked with a standard series of signs and signposts. At the beginning of most stages is a signboard showing the whole stage together with timing, distance and height difference. En route signposting using yellow fingerposts is almost universal and excellent. These fingerposts can be found at most path junctions, and even in remote locations they leave little doubt as to which path to take. They usually show the next few destinations together with estimated walking times and path grade (white/red/black). The Adlerweg is identified on these signs by an eagle silhouette motif, and often by name. Occasionally, older style black and white signboards are encountered, although these are steadily being replaced.
Yellow fingerposts showing the Adlerweg are found at almost every path junction
Between fingerposts, the path is identified by the use of red and white paint flashes on convenient surfaces such as rocks, trees, walls and buildings. These provide waymarking over difficult ground and are essential through forests, across scree and in open pasture where the path may sometimes be indistinct. Occasionally small cairns mark the route, but in misty conditions, paint flashes are considerably more visible. On some stages, where the Adlerweg uses another established path such as Wilder Kaiser Steig in Stage 2, other coloured paint flashes may be encountered. In Voralberg, Stage 22, yellow/white flashes are used for wanderweg, red/white for roter bergweg, and blue/white for schwarzer bergweg.
GPS
All maps listed are GPS compatible under WGS 84 with co-ordinates in both degrees/minutes and UTM. The OeAV CD/ROM maps can be downloaded to GPS. Most refuges publish their GPS co-ordinates on their websites and a complete list is published in OeAV hutten guide. An increasing number of signposts show GPS co-ordinates.
Guidebooks
Tirol tourist board in Innsbruck has produced a 96-page summary guide and accompanying map to all 128 main, alternative and regional stages. While this gives an overview of each stage, it is not suitable to take with you when walking. The first edition (2007) was published in English and German versions, but the second edition (2010) is available in German only. It is available from Tirol Werbung, Maria Theresien Strasse 55, Innsbruck 6010 (www.adlerweg.tirol.at).
Signs at the start and finish of each stage
Bruckmann have published a 144-page guide to all main, variant and regional paths, with a detailed description of the main stages with full colour mapping, plus variant and regional paths in summary form. It is available in German only: Der Adlerweg, Stefanie Holzer (2009) ISBN 978-3-7654-4796-9 Bruckmann Verlag, Postfach 40 02 09, D-80702 Munchen (www.bruckmann.de).
Alpenverein Hutte Book contains details of all alpine refuges in Austria, Germany and Sud Tirol. It is in German with an English key explaining symbols and is available from Austrian Alpine Club UK, 12a North St, Wareham, Dorset BH20 4AG (www.aacuk.org.uk).
Maps
This guide is not intended for use on its own. It is essential to have walking maps at a scale of 1:50,000 or 1:25,000. Maps from three publishers cover the route, and sheet numbers are shown for each stage. However, there are differences between the published maps in terms of scale, coverage and accuracy, as well as when information was researched.
The Adlerweg crosses Gruba bowl from Rofanspitze, just visible right of centre, passing beneath Rosskopf (Stage 7)
Oesterreichischer Alpenverein (AV) maps cover almost 90% of the route at 1:25,000. There is no coverage of the walk-in from St Johann, and the Brandenberger Stages 4, 5 and part of Stages 6 and U6, with Stage 13 covered only at 1:50,000. These maps give the most comprehensive coverage of the Adlerweg, but 14 sheets are required (13 AV plus one from another publisher for the Brandenberger Alpen). They have been revised from original OeAV maps to update land use, path networks and settlements, and do show the Adlerweg. Contours are at 20m intervals overlaid with black hairline depiction of rock features. The maps are GPS compatible with UTM grid. Sheets required are: 8, 6, 5/3, 5/2, 5/1, 4/3, 4/2, 4/1, 3/4, 3/3, 3/2 and 2/2 (all 1:25,000) and 31/5 (1:50,000) plus Kompass 28.
A DVD is available of all OeAV maps. From this you can print your own strip maps of the route, at an enhanced scale (1:10,000), with considerable weight and space saving compared with carrying printed maps.
Freytag and Berndt (FB) cover the route in six sheets at 1:50,000. In addition, there is a 1:25,000 map of Karwendel that can be used instead of the 1:50,000. Maps come with an enclosed booklet (in German) of tourist information, path and walking routes, mountain refuges and guesthouses, and GPS details of key points shown on the maps. All sheets are updated regularly, using satellite photography plus information from tourist offices and alpine clubs, and are reissued at three-year intervals. Contours are at 100m intervals. Maps are GPS compatible with UTM grid. Sheets required are: 301, 321, 322, 241, 352 and 351. Sheet 5322 (1:25,000) can be used instead of 322.
Kompass (K) cover the route, either with two maps at 1:25,000, two maps at 1:35,000 and three maps at 1:50,000; or with six maps all at 1:50,000. The maps come with a booklet giving details of towns, villages, mountain paths and accommodation. Contours are at 40m intervals, and the maps are GPS compatible with UTM grid. Details and path markings are clearer than on Freytag and Berndt maps. The larger scale maps are simply enlargements of the 1:50,000, making them easier to read but with no greater detail. The Adlerweg is shown on all sheets. Sheets required are: 9, 28, 26, 36, 5 and 24 (all 1:50,000); or 09 and 026 (1:25,000), 027 and 036 (1:35,000) and 28, 5 and 24 (1:50,000).
Tourist office maps: in addition to the published maps, Kompass have produced maps for some of the local tourist organisations, with a 1:50,000 map on one side and a local map or panorama on the reverse. These are available free from local tourist offices. Kompass maps are also used by Tirol Werbung for their strip maps of each stage, and these can be downloaded free from www.adlerweg.tirol.at. Local tourist offices also produce street maps of the towns and villages passed through.
All the maps are available from leading map shops, including Stanfords in London and The Map Shop in Upton upon Severn, and are widely available in Austria. OeAV maps and the DVD can also be obtained from either OeAV in Innsbruck or OeAV Britannia Section at www.aacuk.org.uk at a discounted price for AV members.
RECOMMENDED MAPS TO COVER THE ENTIRE ADLERWEG ROUTE
1:25,000
AV 8, 6, 5/3, 5/2, 5/1, 4/3, 4/2, 4/1, 3/4, 3/3, 3/2 and 2/2
1:50,000
AV 31/5, Kompass 28
Accommodation
Places to stay overnight on the Adlerweg vary from basic mountain refuges to five star hotels. In general you will need to stay in refuges when in the mountains, while on evenings when the path leads down into the valleys, you will find a variety of bed & breakfasts, guesthouses, inns and hotels. Such a network of accommodation means that the need to camp is rare and there are very few official camping sites. However, a tent is not needed as you are never more than
