The Adlerweg. Mike Wells

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      The eponymous zirbe (pine) growing alongside Zirbenweg (Stage 13)

      The ibex (steinbock), a herbivorous member of the goat family, is the largest of the three mountain mammals. Males grow to 1m with large backward facing horns, while females are about half this size. Days are spent on rocky slopes above the tree line where they are safe from predators. In late afternoon, they descend to feed on leaves and shrubs in the forest, where they can sometimes be seen standing on their hind legs to reach juicy higher leaves. Ibex were severely depleted by hunting, but numbers are now increasing.

      Black alpine choughs (alpendohle) with yellow beaks and red legs are ubiquitous birds, performing aerial acrobatics over the mountaintops. Pairing for life, they nest on rocky cliff ledges at a higher altitude than any other bird species. Seemingly unafraid of humans, they will often try to plunder your lunchtime sandwiches.

      The only way to be sure to see a golden eagle (adler) is to visit Innsbruck Alpen zoo (Stage 12), where a rather sad looking captive pair inhabit a large aviary. There are 12 pairs living in Karwendelgebirge, although if you are lucky enough to see one in the wild it is unlikely to be more than a mere dot high in the sky. They are ferocious predators with a wingspan of 2m and powerful talons that can sieze creatures as large as small roe deer.

What to take

      Clothing