Snowshoe tobogganing to the Great Winterlake

From the parking lot Gasthof Schmelzhütte (1), 1546 m, we walk a short distance along the asphalt road uphill. Passing the Infopoint of the Austrian Armed Forces, we keep to the right at the next intersection in the direction of Seetal (large green signposts). We continue along the road for a few minutes before we turn left onto the hiking trail after a double garage. You can't miss the entrance, as there is both a yellow sign and a green signpost with the inscription Winterleitenhütte. The path is very well marked and leads slightly uphill through the forest until we pass directly by the sledding and ice rink. Further on we keep slightly to the right, over a bridge, to then start with the steepest section for today's hike. From now on we go uphill in the forest via the "Sterngassl" aisle until we reach the Kleiner Winterleitensee (2), 1780 m, or Winterleitenhütte. We stay on the right side of the lake, pass a beep check point and follow the tracks along trail 08/315. The trail serpentines through the forest, then comes to a free slope area where we keep slightly right uphill. Our next landmark is a small hut (3), 1840 m, with the house number Ossach 47, which is already above the tree line. From here we have a beautiful view of the Großer Winterleitensee, which lies as a large snow-covered area directly in front of us. The way back we arrange depending on visibility and orientation, whereby the connecting slope between the two lakes, also called Karschwelle, is a nice alternative. Then it is only a few meters around the Kleiner Winterleitensee until we finish our hike at the Winterleitenhütte (4), 1782m. As a tip, use a backpack with a lid buckle so that you can secure the snowshoes well when it's time to go back to the starting point by sled.

This hike is also recommended in the moonlight, because you can borrow the sleds in the evening. It is important to check with the innkeeper beforehand about opening hours and sled rental.

There is no public transport connection to the starting point of the tour itself.

General information about public transport in the region: www.verbundlinie.at

There are plenty of parking spaces available at the Schmelzhütte and at the Soldatenkirche.

Winterleitenhütte (Nature Friends House), Tel.: +43 3578 8210, 8750 Judenburg, Ossach 45, www.winterleiten.com. Sledge & snowshoes rental, 

Schmelzhütte, Tel: +43 3578 8240 or +43 681 20 488 137, 8750 Judenburg, Ossach 37. Schmelzhütte on Facebook, Schmelzhütte tourism info.

Freytag & Berndt (2017): Seetaler Alpen, Seckauer Alpen, Judenburg, Knittelfeld. WK 212 Wander-, Rad-, Freizeitkarte; 1:50000 Sarcletti S., Zienitzer E., (2. Auflage 2018): Schneeschuhführer Steiermark – Vom Dachstein bis zum Steirischen Weinland. Bergverlag Rother GmbH, München, S. 176. Für weitere Infos hier klicken.

Schneeweiß C., (2012): Schneeschuhgehen – Praxiswissen vom Profi zu Ausrüstung, Technik und Sicherheit. Bruckmann Verlag GmbH, München, S.192