Stage 4: Trail of 100,000 steps, Sommeralm - St. Kathrein

Name: Stage 4: Trail of 100,000 steps, Sommeralm - St. Kathrein
Brand: Steiermark
Rating: 3 (2 reviews)

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This trail leads in 6 stages around the southern Almenland, the 4th stage starts at GH Holzmeister, leads all the way up to the Sommeralm and over the Brandlucken to St. Kathrein.

This hike around the "Passailer Kessel" is an idea of the Kath. Männerbewegung Passail and was also planned and implemented by them. The six sections are designed in such a way that after each day's stage there is an opportunity to stop for a break or overnight stay. The stages run mainly along designated Alpine Club paths and were also marked with their own signposts. The small boards represent the colours of the hiked communities Fladnitz an der Teichalm (gold), Passail (blue) and St. Kathrein am Offenegg (red).

The trail starts in Arzberg, leads up to the Schöckl and on to the Rechberg. From there it goes via the Nechnitz up to the Teichalm, via the Osser up to the Sommeralm and via the Brandlucken to St. Kathrein am Offenegg. The last two stages then lead over the Patscha down into the Weizklamm gorge before returning to Arzberg via the Gösser and Große Raabklamm gorges.

The 4th stage leads to the beautiful Sommeralm with the windmill and the view from the Plankogel. The Huabn Theatre and refreshment stops await on the Brandlucken and at the end of the tour the flower village of St. Kathrein/Offenegg.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

medium

Level of difficulty

16,5 km

Route

5:30 h

Time

385 hm

Uphill

635 hm

Downhill

1531 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

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More information

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You can find all information about the journey here.

From the Camping-Pension Holzmeister through the Schwoabauer cross, hike up from the Sommeralm to the 3 weather crosses on the Sommeralm (trail no. 45).
Keep left at the weather crosses and walk along the track to the GH Derler and the Sommeralm Chapel (trail no. 45 and 706).
Now cross the Sommeralm road and immediately join the hiking trail up to the windmill and on to the Plankogel (please pay attention to the markings)
At the Plankogel summit cross the highest point of the trail is reached, the view here is accordingly grandiosea
A steep path now leads down to the "Stoakoglhütte", which is already clearly visible at the summit
At the "Stoakoglhütte" you cross the Sommeralm road again, take a meadow path across the alpine pasture and then along the roadside to the "Bucklige Lärche" (Brandlucken/Heilbrunn - Gasen road junction).
From the crossroads, follow the road until, after approx. 150 metres, the hiking trail turns off to the left into the forest (trail no. 745 in the direction of Brandlucken).
First walk through a forest, across a small meadow, continue over a small bridge, into the forest again, where the trail then crosses the Sommeralmstraße road
After another small piece of forest you come to a local road, from there you continue to the left (towards the east)
After a while you reach the Sommeralmstraße again, which you cross
Cross a forest path to reach the Brandlucken with its refreshment stops (GH Unterberger, GH Bauernhofer, Cafe Kornreitherhaus) and the large open-air stage of the Huabn Theatre.
Right next to the open-air stage several paths to St. Kathrein/Offenegg are marked, you walk along path no. 22 to the "Staberhof" and Oberhollerbach to the centre of St. Kathrein.
In St. Kathrein there are several places to stop for hungry hikers (GH Spreitzhofer, GH Schwaiger, Der WILDe Eder).

After the "highlight" of the tour, the Plankogel, the cosy "Stoakoglhütte" with many delicacies awaits guests in the middle of the Sommeralm.

Timetables and travel information can be found at: Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at busbahnbim.at.

For local or return transport we recommend the SAM-shared Taxi.

Parking at Camping-Pension Holzmeister or at the Holzmeister lifts on the Sommeralm.

You can find all the information about the "100,000 Steps Trail" here.

More info about the region, where to stop, where to find rooms and where to find the description of the excursion destinations and businesses:

Tourism Association Eastern StyriaAlmenland Nature Park OfficeFladnitz 1008163 Fladnitz/TeichalmTel: +43 3179 23000Mail: almenland@oststeiermark.com www.almenland.at | www.oststeiermark.com

Hiking map "Almenland", freytag & berndt, 1:50 000 - available at the tourist office or at the businesses,

Hiking map "Grazer Bergland - Schöckl - Teichalm - Stubenbergsee", freytag & berndt, 1:50 000, available in bookshops

The trail has its own website with lots of additional information.