Stage 09 From Glacier to Wine North Route Alpine Variant Admont - Gesäuse Mödlingerhütte

Just a few metres after setting out from Admont (Tourist Information Tel. +43 3613 2116010), directly opposite Admont Abbey, the route follows the main road for a short distance before turning left just before the railway crossing and immediately right again towards the wooded Kematengraben on the eastern edge of the Oberhofsiedlung.

Crossing several forest roads and paths, the trail reaches the spring of the Steinerner Wirt at the foot of the Hahnsteinkante. From here, the route becomes increasingly scenic, passing through mountain pine fields before emerging onto the alpine meadows of the beautifully situated Scheiblegger Hochalm at 1,660 metres above sea level.

From the alpine pasture, the ascent continues towards the Kreuzkogel. Steep alpine slopes gradually lead into a gully below the summit. The reward is a magnificent panorama over the Admont Basin, including Weng, Hall, and Admont, as well as the imposing Haller Mauern on the opposite side of the valley.

From the summit of the Kreuzkogel, the trail follows the striking Riffel Ridge to the summit of the Riffel. For sure-footed hikers, the crossing is generally straightforward. Only the final section below the summit becomes steeper and rockier, where a fixed steel cable provides additional security.

After a short descent to Speikboden, the route joins the Kalbling–Sparafeld Trail. From here, a marked path leads to the summit of the Sparafeld (2,247 metres). Those with sufficient time and energy should consider this worthwhile detour, as the panoramic views from the summit are truly unforgettable.

The trail then descends steeply to the Kalblinggatterl, an important trail junction east of the Klinke Hütte (Tel. +43 3613 2601). Just above the junction, at the foot of the cliffs, a beautifully positioned bench provides another opportunity to enjoy the impressive mountain scenery and reflect on the route covered so far.

At the Kalblinggatterl, this alpine variant rejoins the main route from Admont to the Mödlingerhütte (Tel. +43 680 2057139), today's destination on the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine.

The distinctive double summit of the Admonter Reichenstein, rising north of the Mödlingerhütte, is one of the most photographed mountain motifs in Steiermark and is particularly impressive in the evening light of the Gesäuse mountains.

The following morning, the route continues to the next mountain hut, the Heßhütte, in the heart of the Gesäuse.

Tip: In spring 2018, a jury and the readers of a major Austrian daily newspaper selected Martina Traisch from the Enns Valley and Manfred Polansky from the Mürz Valley as two "super hikers" who hiked the north and south routes in the summer. You can read about their experiences and adventures at www.steiermark.com/superwanderer: From ideal photo spots to hidden wine cellars in mountain huts. Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Martina and Manfred and also become a "super hiker"? It's very easy: Register at www.steiermark.com/superwanderer and then post your experiences, videos and comments along the hiking route "From Glacier to Wine" - regardless of whether you hike the entire route or just one section. Every 5 stages also beckons a small reward!

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, Tel. +43 316 4003
www.steiermark.com

Kompass WK69 Gesäuse, Ennstaler Alpen, Pyhrnpass, Eisenerz www.kompass.at

Freytag & Berndt WK62 Gesäuse · Ennstaler Alpen · Schoberpass www.freytagberndt.at