Overview
mildly sloped montain range packed between the Lavanttal valley and the Western Styria
Normal route to the summit starts from the Hirschegger saddle and follow the broad and gentle ridge due NW,
heading uphill along the marked trail towards the top of the first slope which is easy to spot because of massive wind turbine
From here, trail fork right uphill to Speikkogel, 1993m, then slightly descents a bit due west to a minor saddle.
From there, the trail follows up the ridge of Hofalmkogel, 2040 m, slightly descending (about 35 m of elevation loss)
to another saddle before finally ascending the south sholder of Ameringkogel, by name, Weissenstein, 2160 m.
What is left from there, is to follow the ridge till the summit cross, which is preceeded by two small shelters made of stone.
On the nice end, this is an equally easy and panoramic tour, both for hiking as for the cross country skiing in winter.
On the less appealing side of the coin, entire ridge is spiked with barbed wire - as the ridge itself is frontier between two Austrian federal states, Styria and Carinthia.
Wire itself doesn't create any phisical obstacle, but on longer terms and in larger quantities
it tends to became rather annoying just watching at it.
Views alongside are fairly extensive, not so much for the rest of the Pack Alps and adjacent StubAlpe group,
but evenmore for the clear view toward the Seetaler Alps main ridge due west.
Up to few years ago, Ameringkogel was said to be good spot to watch Formula One races fort free.
Austrian F1 was based at Zeltweg race track, which is clearly seen from the ridge.
However, venue was purchased by Austrian tycoon and Red Bull company owner
Soon after, the reconstruction of the facility begun. This, again, had to be stopped because of the
enviromental impact and following large public eco-campaign.
Therefore, there's no Formula 1 race in Austria these days.
Datasheet
route
Trailhead: Salzstiegelhaus (1543m) on the Hirschegger saddle
Time required: 2 1/2 hours ascent, 1 3/4 hours descend;
Elevation gain: 650m
Elevation loss: 650m
Aggregate altitude difference: 870m
Difficulty: easy hike
Gear: hiking boots, rain protection. Tour skis and poles in winter.
Getting There
The Southern Motorway (A2), is one of the largest infrastructures in Austria (Klagenfurt - Graz - Vienna).
In snowy winters or in peak summer one may expect traffic jams and congestion.
Road map
Panoramic overview map
- getting
there by car:
From Vienna, Graz or Klagenfurt, motorway A2 exit Modriach,
follow the roadsigns for Hirschegg and Salzstiegl. (Hirschegger saddle).
Last portion of the road to Salzstiegl is dirt road, about to be paved in near future.
Coming down the Semmering highway S36 From Vienna, Graz or Klagenfurt,
drive via Zeltweg and Möbersdorf.
For Pack, from Vienna, Graz or Klagenfurt A2 motorway exit Pack. - by coach/bus:
Linie 12 Koflach-(Hirschegg)-(Modriach)-Pack-Koflach - Verbund linie 722 - by train:
With ÖBB one can get as far as Zeltweg,
Austrian Railways query - by plain:
Nearest airport is Graz international.
Serving low-cost carriers as well.
Huts, Maps
hut
hut
- Alpengasthof
Salzstiegel 1543
m
warden: Waltraud Köckf
fax: 03141/20037
eMail: salzstiegel.haus@onemail.at
Open year round.
Twelve rooms with 27 beds, 20 bunks.
maps - • ÖK 161 - Knittelfeld
- • ÖK
162 - Köflach
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