In the years after World War II, Hans Steger and Paula Wiesinger, two South Tyrolean Alpine skiing and mountain climbing legends, decided to move to the Alpe di Siusi, where they purchased the famous Dellai mountain hut, built the Hotel Steger-Dellai and ran it for several decades. After their death, a foundation for the natural conservation of the Alpe di Siusi and for the support of the mountain rescue service was created, the "Hans and Paula Steger Foundation".

The Hans and Paula Steger Trail is one of the projects of the foundation, which is intended to show hikers the beauty of the Alpe di Siusi. It is an easy hiking trail leading from Compaccio to Saltria without any difficult sections or steep ascents. Starting from the church in Compaccio, we follow the trail no. 30, which crosses the asphalted road Compaccio-Saltria before the Hotel Steger-Dellai and leads through a forest up to a small hill with a spectacular view of Mt Sassolungo and Mt Sasso Piatto. After a short section on the asphalted road, the trail leads across lush alpine meadows until Saltria. Alternatively, you can extend the tour following the trails 12A, 12 and 9.

This 4.5 km long trail can be gone in a bit more than one hour (one way). If you don't want to hike back, just take the bus from Saltria to Compaccio. The Hans and Paula Steger Trail offers spectacular views of the beautiful landscape of the Alpe di Siusi, its flora and fauna, and of the surrounding Dolomites. It is this unique nature that Hans Steger and Paula Wiesinger wanted to protect. Some information panels along the trail tell the hikers interesting details of the surroundings as well as the legend of a man named Partschott, who is believed to have lived here at the times of King Laurin...

Author: AT