From Eisenerz (Tourist Information Tel. +43 3635 2110 or +43 676 6164847) this stage of the hiking route "From Glacier to Wine" leads us first to the nearby Leopoldsteinersee with the Seestüberl (Tel. +43 3848 3135) on the eastern shore, one of the most romantic places in Styria. When we leave early in the morning we still have this idyllic landscape together with the wildlife just for ourselves, an experience we should not miss. At the eastern end of the lake at Seeboden our path makes a sharp change of direction and it goes to the right first for a few kilometers comfortably flat there, but soon upwards in the middle of the Hochschwab massif. To the east we bypass the summit of the Kitzstein to soon reach the Fobisalm, a now dilapidated hunting lodge.
Here we keep in the direction of Fobistörl south of the striking and at the same time lonely Brandstein peak and get through mountain pine fields and over beautiful alpine pastures to the Androthalm with its numerous huts, where we are also fed culinary best. After this well-deserved refreshment, we continue westward over the Androthkogel, which lies between the peaks of the Spitzkogel and Kulmstein, to the Sonnschienalm, our stage destination, where we will also spend the night in the Sonnschienhütte (Tel. +43 664 5112474). It is beautifully situated between Ebenstein, Grasserwand and Kulmstein. At dusk we can enjoy the magnificent panorama of the Eisenerz Alps, which present themselves to us here quite peacefully. Just the way life is up here. And what can we look forward to: on the next stage to the Schiestlhaus we reach the summit of the Hochschwab.
Those who have not yet seen the Green Lake in Tragöß (Tourist Information Tel. +43 3868 8330) at the foot of the Hochschwab, can pay a visit to the winner of the election of the most beautiful place in Austria in 2014. The prerequisite for this is, of course, that another night is planned at the Sonnschienalm. Via trail 836, the route descends via the Russenstraße to this unique natural jewel, a lake fed purely by the meltwater of the Hochschwabwasser. Return on the same path or on the 837 path over the Klammboden.
Attention: from September 15 to October 15 there is an annual hunting closure in parts of the Hochschwab area. Therefore, the Sonnschienalm is not open during this period. Therefore, during these weeks the stage from Eisenerz to Tragöß leads from the Sonnschienalm via trail no. 837 to Tragöß (additional 2 hours!). The next day, the ascent from Tragöß to the Schiestlhaus takes place via trail nos. 837 and 838 to rejoin the main route at the Häuslalm.