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Kartitscher Sattel
As the designation hints, this summit is a relatively gentle
saddle between converging valleys. The two approaches have
very different characters: one long, scenic up and down
roller coaster through the fascinating villages of the
Lesachtal, the other side a quick unproblematic climb to the
top.
Approaches From East. Leaving Koetschach-Mauthen the road
climbs steeply up the south side of the valley in order to pick
up the first town. Then it descends again, crossing a mountain
stream on an impressive bridge. But the valley floor managed to
pick up elevation too, and so the descend is not nearly as low
as the starting point. This description could be repeated, what
seems innumerable times, but really is about 4 or 5 times. Each
time the valley becomes shallower, the descends and bridges
smaller, but the villages plastered high up on the ridge remain
as picturesque with their church steeples and their many stately
pensions. Don't bother counting ski areas on this pass (or saddle).
There are some, but they are well hidden and don't employ ski
overruns to cross the road. Instead it might be interesting
count crucifixes, of which there must be hundreds. But you can't
seem them all unless you traverse all the little towns next to
the road. The most impressive mountain vistas are further down
on the approach. As you climb further up, the high valley
catches up in altitude, not only with the mountain ridges, but
also with the road, so that further up, the road is actually
closer to the valley floor. As you approach the top, If if were
not for a few glimpses above, the surroundings could be mistaken
for a small forested valley. There is sign at the top of the
saddle, but the highest point is reached a little later and is
just a few meters higher.
From West. It may take some convincing to leave the
comfortable bike path following the river Drau (Drauradweg) in
the valley between Sillian and Lienz to climb up to this saddle.
Not that there is a lot of traffic on this road, but cycling on
this meticulously paved and signed bike path is very nice
indeed. The switchbacks on the climb improve the view of the
valley and finally passes through the town of Kartitsch. Here
the church makes a great foreground to the ridge behind it. Just
a few more km of moderate climbing and the top of the saddle is
reached. No ski lifts, no special views, but peaceful mountain
forests and meadows. A Dayride with this pass as intermediate summit is on
page: Tilliacher Joch
Extended Tour:
(<Ploeckenpass|Staller Sattel>) Kartitscher Sattel: Obertilliach (which is close to this summit) > Lienz > Defereggental > towards Staller Sattel as far as Sankt Jakob iD: 59 miles with 3300ft of climbing in 5:4 hours. (VDO MC1.0 m3:9.6.22). A Dayride from the endpoint of this day, Sankt Jakob iD, is on page: Klammjoch. 
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Passes in Europe 
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