Südwandhütte - Guttenberghaus | Sun Trail Dachstein: Stage 02

The descent from the Südwandhütte is best done early in the morning and takes about 35 minutes to the valley station of the Dachstein Gletscherbahn. The cable car overcomes 1,000 meters in altitude in just 7 minutes to the Hunerkogel mountain station. Located directly at the mountain station are the "Sky Walk" viewing platform, the Dachstein Eispalast, and the suspension bridge with the Stairway into Nothingness. Definitely worth a visit.

Continue on the path to the Guttenberghaus. This first leads you down to the Gjaidsteinsattel. From there, you descend eastwards along the eastern flank of the Gjaidstein. The trail number is 674. It is a high-alpine tour that begins at almost 2,700 meters above sea level and offers no shelter in between in case of sudden weather changes. Colored markings on rocks and snow poles serve as orientation. Steel cable protections are installed in places.

The landscape is typical for the "am Stein" plateau; snow hollows, gentle climbs, rocky ridges, and a wide view of the Tote Gebirge form the scenery. After about 4 hours of walking, two trails meet at the Feistererscharte. Path #616 is the descent to the already visible Guttenberghaus at 2,146m above sea level. The highest mountain hut in Styria is the 2nd stage destination on the Dachsteinrundwanderweg.

Changes in weather patterns, quick falls in temperature, thunderstorms, wind, fog and snow are some of the dangers that can be encountered on a hiking tour. Hosts of alpine huts and mountain refuges have a lot of experience in the mountains and can give good advice about weather and the trails. Poor equipment, overestimation of one's own capabilities, carelessness, poor personal constitution and/or wrong judgement  can lead to critical situations. In case of thunderstorms: avoid summits, ridges and steel ropes.

GPS data and orienteering

Available GPS data - just like hiking maps - is only a guidance for orientation and can never depict a trail exactly with all its details. Especially at dangerous spots it is essential to judge on site how to proceed.

In an emergency please call:

• 140 - for Alpine emergencies (all over Austria)
• 112 - European GSM emergency number

A well-packed backpack is helpful and especially when touring Alpine terrain a tuque, gloves, a windproof jacket and pants are standard equipment. Good, waterproof shoes, sun glasses, sun cream and sufficient beverages are essential too. Torch light, a map of the area, knie and a small first-aid kit should also be in the backpack.

You can take the Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe bus from Schladming or Ramsau am Dachstein to the valley terminal of Dachstein cable-car.

• Ramsau hiking bus timetable at www.rvb.at

Leisure map "WEST" for the Schladming-Dachstein region, available from the information offices in the Schladming-Dachstein region.