The eight best tips for multi-day hiking tours

Depending on the type of Ötztal long-distance hiking trail, you stay in hotels, guesthouses or huts. Before you set off, you should definitely reserve all overnight stays in good time. By the way, it's good manners to cancel if you can't come after all. Many huts already have online reservation systems. If not, you have to book by phone as writing emails to the hut tenant is not always a good idea: quite a few huts have neither a telephone network nor internet reception. Many refuge huts are operated by alpine clubs (e.g. Alpenverein, Naturfreunde). Members receive discounted accommodation prices. Alpine huts, on the other hand, are often managed by private hut keepers.

The same applies to long-distance hiking trails as to day hikes: use the most appropriate, functional equipment possible! Please find useful tips here >> Additional "little helpers" on long-distance hiking trails are:

• Headlamp (for emergencies and hut nights)
   
• Earplugs (if there are snorers in the hut)
   
• Zip ties and tape (fix almost anything)
   
• What is perhaps most crucial: getting rid of unnecessary ballast. That never hurts in life. And especially not when hiking long distances. Because if you carry too much with you, your dream tour will become a true torture. Minimalists live more carefree – in the truest sense of the word. You only take as much equipment with you as is absolutely necessary. For instance, carrying few provisions (you are well provided with food by the accommodations in the mornings and evenings), listening to podcasts instead of carrying heavy books and using the (usually available) rental slippers – and you master the art of reduction quite well.
   
• Underwear and socks

Starting a long-distance hike with short stages is a good idea. The body needs enough time to adjust to the stress. On high-altitude trails, you also have to get used to the thin mountain air. Every single day you should start slowly and then continue at a “feel good pace”. But how do you find your perfect pace? As long as you can talk relaxed while walking, it's fine! In addition, long-distance hiking also requires courage to take a break – or even a day off in between: just because a route is given in five days doesn’t mean that you can't do it in an entire week.

If you hike in the Austrian Alps for several days at a time, you will rarely enjoy continuous sunshine. It is therefore very important to be prepared for bad weather, e.g. by taking with you a good rain jacket and a rain cover for the backpack. Inside the backpack, sensitive items (e.g. mobile phones) can also be protected by additional waterproof bags. There are even waterproof backpacks. But the most important thing is to react at all when the weather conditions change. One is often tempted to stubbornly go on "because we are on vacation right now" or one has already put a lot of effort into the preparation. But if the weather is really bad, there is often no choice but to cancel or shorten the long-distance hiking tour. It's good if you've explored all the possibilities already in advance! Such "escape options" also help if the tour is more strenuous than expected. To put your mind at ease: to stop or cancel a tour is just normal. The Ötztal mountains will still be there next year. With such a huge choice of hiking opportunities, you have to come back several times anyway.

The passionate mountain photographer, journalist and hiking guide instructor loves to be out and about in the quiet spots of the Alps. Therefore, he has enough to discover within Ötztal and surroundings. www.agentur-bergwerk.at