Directly in the centre of Werfen, keep to the right and follow a little side street in the direction of the "Schilift" (ski lift). Follow the road first uphill for a while and then on an even course through a residential area. At the hairpin bend of the road, a little woodland path branches off towards "Rettenbachmaierl". Follow this lovely path to reach the Rettenbachmaierl after approx. 10min and keep to the left along the forest road. This leads to a farmhouse, which must be crossed before following the path to the right, past the little chapel and over the dirt track to a fork in the road. Here, take the left-hand path towards "Illmau/Pfarrwerfen". This leads down to the main road, where further to the right across the bridge the signposting points right to the Mitterfeldalm meadow (approx. 30min from Werfen). A dirt track leads across the meadow and later steeply uphill through the wood to the "Dachssteinhof" farm and further to the asphalt road, which leads to the Oberschwabegghof farm. At the farm, keep to the right and follow the signposting for "Mitterfeldalm, Steinalm, Matrashaus". Later, the asphalt road merges into a dirt track, which leads on a steady gentle incline through the wood. Unfortunately, the Gasthaus Hölln inn is no longer in business. Only after an approx. 3-hour walk do you reach the turn-off to the Grünmaißalm meadow. Here, keep to the right in order to reach a track a little later, which follows along the sloping ridge on an almost even course. Then climb over a cattle gate, continue for a short distance on a forest path and turn immediately left and uphill into the wood. The track becomes increasingly steeper and leads directly to the Steinalm meadowland. The sloping ridge must be climbed in several sharp bends, at the end of which stands the Mitterfeldalm meadow (4h-4h 30min from Werfen). The Mitterfeldalm is a real gem. Rarely do you find such a beautiful little refuge that is furnished with so much love for detail. In addition to this, there is fresh milk, homemade cheese, butter and bread. The refuge also offers accommodation. From here, the main upward track turns off to the Hochkönig over the Torsäule mountain (6-7h). A well constructed hiking trail leads on from the Mitterfeldalm to the Arthurhaus mountain hotel. It goes gently downhill and later it is possible to stay on a level course parallel to the wider trail using a smaller track. After approx. 20min, you will reach the Arthurhaus mountain hotel, which can also be reached by car via a panoramic road. Regular mail bus runs offer the possibility of travelling to Mühlbach am Hochkönig, Dienten, Hinterthal and Saalfelden.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)
 

The Mitterfeldalm meadow is something like a showcase meadow of modern times. Cows, pigs and sheep are still reared there and the produce is sold on site. The low fat “Sauerkäse” (sour cheese), the Pinzgau beer cheese and the soft sheeps’ cheese are particularly popular. But buttermilk, butter, curd and yogurt are also produced on site. The Mitterfeldalm farms also offer home-made desserts and bread. After the long climb from Werfen, hikers can look forward to refreshments in wonderful surroundings. Next to the Mitterfeldalm meadow, numerous other alpine pastureland farms on the trail via the Arthurhaus lodge, the Erich Hut and the Pichlalm meadow to Hinterthal offer inviting resting places. The meadows bear witness to the ancient cultural landcape that developed from a very early stage on the fertile slopes of the mighty mountain massif. Even the "Übergossene Alm" (flooded meadow) is said – or so legend has it – to have been lushly carpeted in green once. Numerous farm huts are said to have stood there on the splendid pastureland. The alpine farmers are said to have received pieces of gold in return for butter and cheese, and as business was so good, their wealth grew ever greater. The alpine farmers there were high-sprited, they gilded the horns of their bulls and drank casks full of the best wines. They bathed in milk and paved their trails with butter and cheese. However, when one day a poor hiker asked for shelter, they scorned him and sent him away. Thereupon, there was a mighty snowstorm, which turned the entire pastureland into ice and snow. And that is how it has remained until today, the "Übergossene Alm". In addition to the alpine farming, copper mining has also played an important role for a long time. 160 copper melting sites were found in the vicinity of the Arthurhaus lodge, the slag of which is up to 5,000 years old. This area is thus one of the oldest prehistoric industrial centres in Europe. The valley station of the mine was Bischofshofen. Today, it is possible to view the old galleries in the mining museum at Mühlbach on the Hochkönig.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)