Stage 17 From Glacier to Wine South Route Pack - Weinebene

From Pack, we first hike back to the North-South Long Distance Trail 05, which we also follow for the next kilometers to the Handalm/Weinebene. At the Gerhaber farmstead we pass the "Stoanernen Mandl", a slanted stone with a shadowy face carved into it. By whom, when and why it was created is completely in the dark. Some see its origin in the Middle Ages, others even think that it comes from the Celtic period. In legends it is said that it was created by an enchanted woman. Slightly ascending it goes for us now on the Hebalm, where as for refreshment next to the Hebalm Stub`n (Tel. +43 660 7640669, in summer Friday - Sunday open) and the Hebalm Seestüberl (Tel. +43 664 1005760) around the lake also cozy places to linger and enjoy the sun. A special feature on the Hebalm, which we must visit, is the unique cathedral of the forest. A wooden walkway has been built here in the eighty-year-old forest stand, which follows the ground plan of the Milan Cathedral to scale. Between the tops of the spruce trees, which impressively represent the innumerable spires and turrets of the Milan Cathedral, concerts, readings and celebrations of all kinds take place from time to time.

The further way on this stage of the hiking route "From glacier to wine" leads us past the cross-country skiing center with the Rehbockhütte (Tel. +43 3469 550, in summer Wednesday closing day) to the high moor See-Eben, which offers us an impressive plant world. In 2008 a viewing platform was built north of the See-Eben, which offers us a wonderful view over the high moor. Afterwards we hike over the Wildbachersattel and the Weberkogel, again and again encountering rock furnaces such as the Bärofen, to the Handalm near the Weinebene. The Handalm offers us not only a fantastic panoramic view, but also an abundance of spectacular rock furnaces made of Plattengneis. From here it is only a short distance to the Weinebene with the Gösler Hütte (Tel. +43 664 3024510), our stage destination today.

Note: If the Gösler Hut is fully booked, please contact the organic hotel Alpengasthof Koralpenblick, which also offers a shuttle from the Weinebene to the hotel: Tel. +43 3461 210!

Accessible by train and bus.

Detailed information about arriving by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) can be found at www.oebb.at or on the Verbundlinie Steiermark website www.busbahnbim.at

With Verbundlinie’s BusBahnBim route planner app, planning your journey has never been easier: simply enter towns and/or addresses, stop names or points of interest to check all bus, train and tram connections in Austria. The app is available free of charge for smartphones – on Google Play and in the App Store

Steiermark Tourismus

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If you would like to hire a  tour operator, simply book with Steiermark Touristik, the official travel agency of Steiermark Tourismus:

Tel. +43 316 4003 450, 

www.steiermark-touristik.com

The Steiermark Touren app, available free of charge on Google Play and the App Store  (Android, iOS), offers detailed first-hand information: brief facts (length, duration, difficulty, ascent and descent/elevation gain, ratings), map, route descriptions, altimeter, compass, peak finder, navigation along the tour. You can also create your own personal lists of favourite tours and sites, store tours and destinations offline, use social media channels, and much more.

Gratis Pocket Card Wanderroute "Vom Gletscher zum Wein" finden Sie auf www.steiermark.com

Kompass WK219 Lavanttal, Saualpe, Koralpe www.kompass.at

Freytag & Berndt WK132 Gleinalpe · Lipizzanerheimat · Leoben · Voitsberg und WK411 Steirisches Weinland · Südwest Steiermark www.freytagberndt.at

Rother Wanderführer "Vom Gletscher zum Wein": auf 160 Seiten mit 80 Farbabbildungen 60 Höhenprofile, 60 Wanderkärtchen im Maßstab 1:75.000, zwei Übersichtskarten, GPS-Tracks zum Download, Format 11,5 x 16,5 cm, kartoniert mit Polytex-Laminierung, ISBN 978-3-7633-4550-2, www.rother.de