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2-days-hike: In the Miners’ Footsteps

Accessible by public transport

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty challenging

Route 23,4 km

Time 10:23 h

Uphill 1870 hm

Downhill 2402 hm

Highest point 2453 m

A demanding hiking tour for 2 days which requires good physical condition - the reward are beautiful views and a breathtaking landscape.

This 2-day-hike takes you to the center of the historic mining area in the Schladminger Tauern range. Up to the 19th century miners digged for various ores in the Giglachkar cirque and in the mountains around Keinprechthütte chalet. While the miners had to carry up to 60 kilograms of ore on their back, it's just your backbag for you.

Trail characteristics:

Alpine tour with summit ascent, rubble stone fields, snowfields partially possible. Surefootedness and a head for heights are required. Take great care in case you have to cross snowfields - especially in the mornings when they are still frozen.

Highlights:

Historic Roman route between Ursprungalm and Preuneggsattel mountain saddle
Giglachkar cirque with the 2 Giglachsee Lakes
Vetternkar cirque with the 2 Knappensee Lakes
Peak of the Rotmandlspitze
Trockenbrotscharte mountain saddle
Landawirseen Lakes
Gollingscharte ridge and Hochgolling summit (an extra 3-4 hours walk from Gollingscharte)
Gollingwinkel & Steinriesental valley

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

We recommend to take the bus to the starting point "Ursprungalm" because the tour ends at another location in Untertal valley. From Untertal valley take the bus back to Rohrmoos or Schladming. Bus timetable: www.planaibus.at or phone.: +43 3687 22 042

Day 1 - to Keinprechthütte chalet via Giglachkar cirque

In the morning, take the first bus from Schladming via Rohrmoos to the starting point at Ursprungalm chalet. From there it is about one hour walk uphill via trail n° 771 to the Preuneggsattel mountain saddle and the Giglachseen Lake. Part of the trail to Giglachkar cirque is a historic Roman trade route.

Once you reach Giglachseehütte chalet you can walk either along the left bank (where Ignaz-Mattis-Hütte chalet is situated) or the right bank of the lakes to the trail junction at the lower end of the lakes. Follow trail n° 702 to the Vetternkar cirque until you reach the ruins of the historic miners' houses. Afterwards the path winds up to the left to the peak of Rotmandlspitze.

Depending on the season there might be some snowfields or rubble stone fields leading you to Krukeckscharte ridge. From there follow the trail downhill via switchbacks to Keinprechthütte chalet, where you stay overnight (we recommend to book accommodation in advance, Tel.: +43 664 43 30 346).

Day 2 - to Untertal valley via Trockenbrotscharte and Gollingscharte ridges

Strengthened by the breakfast you follow the trail n° 702 on the right side through the extensive cirque until you get to a trail junction. Continue left, and hike up to the wind gap of Trockenbrotscharte (2.237 m). From the top you can already see the next chalet - Landawirseehütte - which you will reach after approximately 30 minutes.

From there a wide trail takes you downhill to "Innerer Göriachwinkel", where you turn-off left and the path leads upwards to the wind gap Gollingscharte (2.326 m). You can also reach Gollingscharte on a more direct way from Trockenbrotscharte via trail n° 702A. However, this route often is only possible in late summer and fall when dangerous snowfields are completely gone.

At the Gollingscharte you have the choice to get to the top of the peak Hochgolling (2.863 m, an extra walking time of 3-4 hours). Surefootedness, a head for heights and alpine experience is required for the peak!

From the Gollingscharte the alpine path n° 702/778 no leads you downwards to Gollingwinkel - a mystic but beautiful alpine pasture, resembling a natural amphitheatre. After 15 minutes walk you get to the Gollinghütte chalet from where you walk approximately 1.5 hours to the end point of the hiking tour at Seeleiten car park in Untertal. From there take the Planai bus back to Rohrmoos and Schladming. If you have some time left while waiting on the bus, have a coffee or an ice cream at Almgasthaus Riesachfall.

From Landawirseehütte chalet make a short sidetrip (15-20 minutes) to the Landawirseen Lakes.

From bus station "Lendplatz" or "Planet Planai" in Schladming with the bus of the Planai-Hochwurzen Bahnen to the starting point "Ursprungalm" in Preuneggtal valley, return journey from "Seeleiten Parkplatz Riesachsee" again by bus to Schladming.

Buses of Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen: www.planaibus.at

Car park Kraiterparkplatz Schladming or parking garage at Planet Planai. Kraiter car park is approximately 5 -10 walk from the bus station "Lendplatz" from where you take the bus to the starting point "Ursprungalm".

Information about bus schedules: www.planaibus.at

360° drone images

Get yourself an overview with our 360° drone images:

View over Giglachkar cirque: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=307
Giglachseen and Kalkspitzen summits: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=308
Lower Giglachsee Lake and Vetternkar cirque: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=309
Via Rotmandlspitze: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=310
View into Neualmkar cirque: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=312
At Trockenbrotscharte ridge: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=313
Landawirseen Lakes: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=314

Hiking map ‘Hiking WEST’ available at the information offices in the region.
Schladming hiking map, 1:25,000, available at the Schladming information office.
Hiking map Schladming-Dachstein, 1:50,000, available at the information offices in the region.
Hiking guide Schladming-Dachstein by Herbert Raffalt, available at the information offices in the region.