Blasiuszeiger / Monte di Biagio

Overview

The southwestern part of the Texel Group is home to a complex cluster of peaks. The jagged ridges between them offer some fine scrambling and mountaineering routes as well as scenic photo opportunities. The highest one, and the only one with a respectable prominence, is the Gfallwand (3175m). But quite a few other peaks on the many ridges have a name and often even a summit cross. One such peak is the Blasiuszeiger. It is the northernmost one on the impressive Hühnerjochkamm, a long, beautiful ridge stretching some two kilometers to the northeast from the Gfallwand (3175m).

As it isn't one of the highest summits in the Texel Group, the views in most directions are not very far. The one big exception is towards the southeast, and that view alone is worth getting up there if visibility is good: With nothing blocking the way to the southeast, you can look down on Meran, and to the mountains far, far beyond.

There is a big summit cross on top. Back in 2007, there was a thermometer on it, but five years later I didn't see it anymore.

The Blasiuszeiger lies in Süd-Tirol, a relatively autonomous region in Italy these days. The main language is German. In the past that was different: German was suppressed, and all geographical features received Italian names. In Italian, the mountain is called Monte di Biagio.

Getting There

Getting to the area

The nearest city is Meran, a pleasant place southeast of the Texel Group. Well shielded by the Alps from bad weather coming in from the north, it has a very nice climate. In summer, the area attracts a lot of visitors and for a small city it is well connected.

Partschins, just west of Meran, is the nearest village to the Blasiuszeiger and therefore the most obvious starting point.

By car

• From the north there are three options:
  
  
  • Along the provincial road over the Reschenpass via Nauders and then down the Vinschgau valley;
    
  • Via the mountain road over the Timmelsjoch (closed in winter), down the Passeiertal and turn right at Meran, into the Vinschgau valley;
    
  • Over the Brenner motorway via Sterzing, and then also down the Passeiertal.
  
  
• From the south, the only way is by the motorway from Bozen / Bolzano.
  
  
• From Switzerland, in the west, the Ofenpass and then down the Vinschgau valley is the most logical route

By public transport

Meran has regular train connections with Bozen / Bolzano, which is well connected to the rest of the Italian rail network as well as to Austria and Germany to the north. In addition, a regional train heads up the Vinschgau valley, west of Meran, as far as the small village of Mals. The station nearest to Partschins is Rabland. Alternatively, buses go from Meran up the Vinschgau valley, stopping at Partschins.

From the north, from Austria, regular buses come over the Reschenpass to Mals. And likewise, from the west, from Switzerland, regular buses come over the Ofenpass to Mals.

Getting to the Lodnerhütte

The Lodnerhütte lies in the center of the Texel Group, directly northwest of the the Blasiuszeiger, where the Lafaistal joins the Zieltal. Of the many ways to get there, the shortest one is from the south, hiking up the Zieltal. From the Birkenwald car park (980m), still fairly low in the Zieltal above the village of Partschins, it's about 4 hours to the refuge. Early on you'll pass by the impressive Partschinser Falls.

Alternatively, to save an hour and some energy, you can start by taking the Texelbahn cable car from Partschins up to the Giggelberg (1535m) and hike north on the Meraner Höhenweg to the Nassereithhütte (1523m) and from there up the Zieltal to the Lodnerhütte.

Routes

Normal route from the Lodnerhütte

A steep hiking trail, clearly signposted and normally well maintained, leads all the way up. The slopes are loose though, and prone to erosion. When I visited in 2012, shortly after a whole lot of rain, the trail had suffered.

From the refuge, the trail starts out to the west, towards the Lafaistal. Very soon it reaches the banks of a mountain stream, the Lafaisbach. A small wooden bridge leads across the fast flowing water. After that, the trail turns south.

Zig zagging up the grassy slopes, the trail quickly gains altitude. Eventually the grass disappears and the slopes get more rugged. At a shoulder with a rather inconspicuous trail junction, the main trail turns right. From there, it's not far to the summit anymore.

Count on 1.5 to 2 hours from the refuge to the summit and 1 hour for the descent.

The Königshof route

Judging by the state of the trail, where there is one that is, this route isn't used much. However, when not starting at the Lodnerhütte but down in the Vinschgau valley, this is a good alternative, albeit a more strenous one, with the added advantage that you'll find yourself in a very quiet part of the Texel Group. No scrambling is required, this is still a hiking route.

After initially coming up the Zieltal, the same way as if going to the Lodnerhütte, turn left at around 1900m on trail nr 3. There is a sign pointing to the Zielspitze but the Blasiuszeiger isn't mentioned. Sections of the trail are steep and difficult. Eventually it gets easier as it leads to a wide, relatively flat area with the remains of the Königshof (±2350m).

You're getting close now, and it's much shorter to leave the trail to the Zielspitze and head straight up the grassy slopes of the Blasiuszeiger to the northwest. Aim for a high shoulder slightly to the right of the summit. Before getting there, you may very well find the trail (nr 3A this time) again, but if you don't, on the shoulder you can turn left and follow the normal route.

The Hühnerjochkamm

From the Gfallwand (3175m) the Hühnerjochkamm stretches 2 kilometers to the northeast with the Blasiuszeiger marking the end. Although it looked inviting, I haven't traversed this ridge (yet). According to the guidebook, it's UIAA grade III.

See also the panoramic image of the ridge at the top of this page.