Etappe 02: BergZeitReise Sonnschienalm - Hochschwab - Schiestlhaus

From the lake, which by the way is a few minutes' walk off the main trail, we continue via the Sackwiesenalm to the Häuslalm, a real Hochschwabin institution. This alp, which is open all year round (with the exception of the hunting season!), is a popular day hiking destination from Gasthof Bodenbauer.

But we turn left uphill to start the ascent towards the Hochschwab summit behind the alpine hut. Through mountain pine alleys and over the so-called Hundsböden, the trail continues upwards to the high plateau (be careful in fog!).

It now becomes somewhat flatter and soon we stand, following the pole markings, in front of the Fleischer bivouac box. By the way, the well-known Hochschwab ascent over the "G'hackte" comes up from the right.

For us, however, it is now only a short climb in an easterly direction (there is usually a small snow field to cross here) and we are standing at the highest peak of the BergZeitReise, at the 2,277m high Hochschwab.

A magnificent panorama awaits us - and in order to be able to name the numerous peaks, there is also an orientation disc in the immediate vicinity of the large summit cross.

From the summit, after an extensive rest, we descend (caution, a short exposed passage) over the small Schwaben to the already visible Schiestlhaus.

This was completely rebuilt as a pilot project for ecological and energy self-sufficient refuge construction at the end of the 1990s in place of the old refuge built in 1884.

We have reached our overnight destination.

Decades later, the search for water resources that could be used in the future and were suitable as drinking water also reached the Hochschwab mountain range from the south. After preliminary work beginning in the early 1970s, drinking water was finally transported to Graz in 1993.

The alpine pasture economy, which is very pronounced here in the western Hochschwab region, must function in harmony with the use of drinking water. The prerequisite for this is, on the one hand, a regulated grazing operation and, on the other hand, a secure supply and disposal of drinking water, waste water and waste to the huts. Often alpine pasture sites have existed for many centuries. In the time of the industrialization it came to a strong decrease of the Almwirtschaft . The reason for the abandonment of many alpine pastures was the strong migration of workers from agriculture to industry. Other major changes occurred after the Second World War. The economic functions of the alp shifted to the permanent settlement area and certain labor-intensive tasks were - due to the lack of alp personnel - now carried out from the valley or not at all. Today, targeted alpine pasture promotion measures counteract the dramatic decline of this economic form.

All connections by bus, train and streetcar in Austria can be queried by entering placesand/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store.

From glacier to wine

The Styria Tours app, available for free on Google Play and in the App Store (Android, iOS), offers detailed first-hand information: short facts (length, duration, difficulty, ascent and descent in altitude meters, ratings), map, route descriptions, altimeter, compass, summit finder, navigation along the tour. In addition, you can create your personal favorites list of favorite tours and points, save tours and destinations offline, play on social media channels and more.

With the BusBahnBim app from Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train and streetcar connections in Austria can be queried by entering locations and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store.

Available in the webshop, in the office of the TRV Hochsteiermark or in well-stocked bookstores.