Stage 09 Luchs Trail: Palfau - Lassing (long stage)

If the previous stages of the Luchs Trail have left you with some energy to spare, you might like to complete this last stage on a more demanding, alternative route. This variation runs via the summit of the Gamsstein mountain – adding another hour to your journey, but rewarding you with the most stunning scenery. Starting out from your accommodation in Palfau, you head West through the village until you reach a bridge (situated east of the village church). A narrow, gently ascending road will take you up to the ‘Bergbauer’ farmstead, where you follow the signs for the ‘Naturfreundehütte’ (an infrequently occupied mountain hostel), which you reach after a short while. Now continue through some wild woodlands (even trees that have previously fallen in a storm have not been removed in order to maintain the forests’ natural cycle). Next, you embark on a steep ascent through creeping pines and over grassland pastures, until you have reached the Gamsstein summit (1770 m) – where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Totes Gebirge, Gesäuse, Hochschwabmassiv and Dürrenstein mountain ranges. For your ascent, you follow the signs for Hollenstein, hiking first along the ridge, then in between patches of creeping pine, all the way down to the Moarhochalm alpine pasture (1550 m). The rest of the way – leading to Lassing – is identical to the standard route (see above). Level of difficulty: mediumHiking time: 8 hrs 15 minDistance: 22.3 kmAscent: 1357 mDescent: 1222 m