SHORT ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
Wolayersee Hütte-Wolayer Alm/403/439-Hubertuskapelle/439-Wolayer Tal-Wodmaier/20-Gail/Brücke-Podlanig/438/15-St. Jakob im Lesachtal/B111-nördl. Strajach-Röthengraben/Rötengraben-Gailtaler Höhenweg-southeast Röthenkopf/Rötenkopf-Gailberg Sattel/Gh. The Gailberghöhe/226
EXACT ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
1. we walk from the hut (1965 m) to the W, along the Kärntner Grenzweg (KGW), the Via Alpina (VA, red), the Karnischer Höhenweg (KHW), the Südalpenweg (SAW) 403 and path no. 439 and 20 - after approx. After approx. 170 m, turn half-right and walk down a narrow path to then rejoin the main farm track (HWW) - this leads you to the Obere Wolayeralm (1st break/hut, 1.8 km, 1748 m).
2. after approx. 700 m the 4 major long-distance hiking trails (WWW) lead to the left, SW, - we stay on the HWW and ignore - just before the Hilden waterfall - an abandoned path downwards. Below the waterfall (left turn) we take the 2nd break, 3.2 km, 1555 m.
3. the HWW with path no. 439 and 20 leads us down to the Untere Wolayer Alm - soon afterwards we choose a path (shortcut). We reach the HWW again and walk west past the Zollhütte - after approx. 500 m we come to a fork - we keep to the left and immediately afterwards stand at the Hubertus Chapel (3rd break, 6.8 km, 1110 m).
4. hike back to the fork in order to hike at an acute angle along the Wolayer valley on path no. 438 heading NE. After approx. 2.5 km we go straight ahead at a fork, also after approx. 2.4 km - soon afterwards we reach a clearing and see the Wolayersee guesthouse (4th break, 12 km, 990 m).
ALTERNATIVE: The route Wodmaier - St. Jakob im Lesachtal can also be covered by taxi (from Kötschach) - saving 5.5 km
5. the tarmac road leads us past a chapel and a wayside cross down to the Gail bridge - we walk approx. 1 km up to the B 111 and the village of Podlanig - we turn right, east, and reach the village of St. Jakob im Lesachtal after approx. 2 km (5th break, 17.5 km, 942 m).
6. just after the end of the village, we follow path no. 226 to the left, taking care to turn right, NE, after approx. 80 m at a fork. Passing to the north of Strajach, we reach the Röthenbach/Rötenbach stream after approx. 2.2 km in the Röthengraben/Rötengraben - walking uphill for approx. 2 km we reach the Röthenkreuz/Rötenkreuz (6th break, 22.5 km, 1290 m).
7. at the crossroads we meet the Gailtaler Höhenweg (GHW), which will accompany us from Mussen to Warmbad Villach (stage 30). From the Röthenkreuz/Rötenkreuz we take path no. 226 down to the B 110 and immediately afterwards, heading north, reach the stage finish E 25 at the Gailberghöhe inn (26 km, 978 m).
