Description

* Hiking on historical trails* Where in earlier centuries the smugglers and muleurs cavorted and tried to escape the customs officers, well accessible mountain paths still lead today through the unique mountain landscape.

For one and a half centuries, from the beginning of the 19th century until well into the 20th century, smuggling was an important source of income for the population, especially in the Montafon.

Up to 40 kilograms of load were carried on the nightly marches over the mountains, filled above all with the "green gold".

The coffee beans were unroasted so that their smell did not get into the customs officers' noses.

Salt, flour, sugar and saccharin were smuggled into Austria, as well as luxury foods such as tobacco, coffee and chewing gum, but also soap, washing powder and toilet rolls.

To circumvent the strict censorship, the smugglers also brought forbidden books to Austria.

Animals and products such as butter, meat, bacon, skins and cow skins were smuggled into Prättigau.

Up to 400 head of livestock were driven to Switzerland each year via the passes and yokes.

Also popular in Switzerland were clothes, shoes and watches as well as tobacco pipes, binoculars, porcelain and cow bells from Austria. The smugglers were smart and crafty.

Some nailed their shoe soles upside down on the shoes to mislead persecutors.

In this way their tracks pointed exactly in the opposite direction.

If a customs officer followed the fresh tracks in the snow, he did not run after the smuggler, but away from him. In a varied circular hike, the Smugglerpfad leads from the Schafberg Hüsli mountain restaurant (2,130 m) over the St.

Antönier Joch (2,379 m) - past the Gafiersee (2,290 m) to the Gafierjoch (2,415 m) and back to the mountain restaurant.

There is much to discover on the four-and-a-half to five-hour circular walk through the border area between Austria and Switzerland.

With a little luck you can observe marmots, chamois or even a ibex.

The Smuggler Path was awarded the Austrian Hiking Quality Seal in 2015! *Note:* From the St.

Antönier yoke you hike a short distance along the ridge.

*On this passage sure-footedness and freedom from vertigo (white/blue/white marking) are required * An attached steel rope is available as an aid.

Otherwise, the rest of the hike is marked white-red-white.

A hiking trail on paths. equipment hiking boots with good profile, poles recommended